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illustrent  la  m^ithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

I 


; 


1        I 


>     " 


! 


' 


/tyiU.   Au 


.// 


t>  J.   t>  ■-  '«       /  ^^ 


THE 


TRAVELLERS'  OWN  BOOK, 


TO 


SARATOGA  SPRINGS, 

NIAGARA  FALLS  AND  CANADA, 

CONTAINING 

noUTES,   DISTANCES,   CONVEYANCES,   EXPENSES, 
CSR   or  MINERAL   WATERS,  BATHS,  DESCRIPTION  OF  SCENERY,  ETC. 

A  COMPLETE  GUIDE, 

FOR    THE  VALETUDINARIAN    AND    FOR    THK     TOURIST, 
8EEKINO   FOR    PLEASURE    AND    AMUSKMENT. 

^V  I  T  H    MAPS    AND    ENGRAVINGS. 


BY  S.   DE  VEAUX. 


"And  still  tliou  dasliest  in  thunder  down 
Willi  a  silver  robe  and  a  rainbow  crow  n," 


BUFFALO: 

FAXON    &    HEAD, 
1841 


REFERENCES  TO  THE  mi 


I 


On  the  Canada  Side. 

1.  BciiderV-J  Cavp. 

4.  Concert  Mouse. 

(i.  Col.  Clark's  old  plwo. 

P.  Wlicre  tliR  Episcopal  CliurcH 

stood.    IJiirnt  hy  incoiidia- 

rios,  Sept.  Iriji), 
0.  Gull  Isliinil. 

10.  Site  of  Briilgewairr  A'illn;;" 

11.  Cliipprwa  Battle  Groiiini. 
"Table  Hock."    It  projrris  over 

several  feet.    Visitors  dc- 
Bc'ciul  here  to  go  under  (lie 
shc-c;  of  water,  or  to  wli;u 
is  called  Teriuiiiation  Jfocfc. 
"  Clifton  IJouse."  on  llie  lirow  of 
tlir  l:ill,  where  the  road  rises 
fronj  the  ferry. 
3.  Where  stood  the  Pavillion. 
1«.  C:irrin|jc  Koad  down  the  hank, 
13.  Ferry  nud  Guardhouse. 


Bistauecs  from  the  Ferry, 
U.  C. 

To  Ciit'ton  House  106  rods. 

Tabic  R(M'k,  ]  2  i:i.. 

Burning  Siiring,  i    •• 

"    Bender's  Cave,  3- 1  '  '• 

"    liundy's  Lane  Batlle 


M  A  P    0  F    N  [  A  (i  A 

AND    (iUlDE    ' 

Being  a  complete  Directory  nnd  tlnidc  to  tlie  Fulls  mid  viriiiity 

DIRECTIONS  TO  HASTY 

1h<.  Slarl  from  the  HolcU,  m  Miiii  stroet,  Ningnrn  Falls  Vi  11  n<r>?—^j  wcrtt  to  Pro^peH  Pla- 
to  fbe  hridgn—^iizr  !~cr()fH  (he  hri.lire  (o  Iris  klnnd— -rise  the  hill— take  the  rood  to  tlio  liglit— 
tlio  Piospoct  Tower,  and  round  tli;'  l-laiid. 

"-id.  At  more  leisure  wnlknloug  the  high  bank  of  the  rivir,  or  ride  lo  the  WbirlpoDl,  and  vis 


\; 


(adjoin IN C;    )  SHOHES.) 

BUFFAJbO. 
FaxDii  <*i  Read. 


»»■ 


J 


'y^ ''////■// 


J  '■     ■#--     ^J//!'l !  t     -    ,      '     ■'a 

iiim>!'^i  rrrt-ii-ra^/      ^^^^         1////  /      '     '   /   /    / 


I 


\^, 


^;    J I  Mir  ^^^  ^ 


N  I  A  (i  A  U  A    F  A  L  L  S, 

ND    (iUlDE    TABLE. 

0  thr  Fulls  mid  viplnity,  for  reninrk  on  the  spot,  or  for  rcfereiire  at  home. 


lECTIONS  TO  HASTY  TRAVELLERS. 

go — ^.j  vvccil  (o  Prn-f|)Pol  Pla-p  and  Ware's  Obacival'My  ;  gaze  on  the  K'cnr! — rotiim  cmfcrly  along  the  river 
-take  Ihc  road  to  the  riglit — at  the  point  of  the  Islmid  look  tironnil!-^\n\'H  to  (he  Biddio   stairs — thcnco  to 

ride  to  the  Wbirlpoul,  and  visit   other  places  of  noloricty. 


fiEFEREM'KS  TO  THE  MV. 


On  the  American  Side. 

A— Tatifrnct  Hotel. 
Tl— l'as1«  llntH. 

.,  ■■-Kxfhunjn'  lfoti-1,  i>H(l  Whirlpool 
Omnibus  oflU'*! 

r.-R»llilM...V^ '"?:«  fouTirtation, 
■I'-Lockport  an'd  >'i»P'ni  Falls 

r.iiirdad  office. 
*<-i-l?i»fraJ()  and  Niagara  T^'"^  "'•'^' 

loali  ollu-c. 
■II— Ferry,  uml  WarP's  Observa- 
tory, 
^I— "Wliere  Francis  Abiiott  livcd- 
'T— Where  Alexander  went  off  lie 

bank. 
'K— l'r()|>oi!ed  road  Aown  (l>c  bank. 
Tj — Old  Indian  liaddcr. 
M — C'liapln's  Island. 
>i — Hobinson's  Island- 
>0 — Prospect  Mmid. 
{[»'Q— Sloop  and  Bay  Islands. 
iU— Prospect  Tower  and  Terrapin 

Hocks. 
S~Hoad,  washed  away. 
T_.^Ioss  Island. 
V—L"re^ce.nt^ or  Centre  Fall,  under 

wWdi  is  Ingraliai*  a  Cave. 
V_PapTr  .Hill. 
■•'2— Presttytcrian  Cliurch- 


7 


>!{  — Pro^pn-t  T/Jwrr  aJjil  'r<Tr:i|Mii 


I.e. 

To  Clinon  House  i06  rods. 

Tiihir  R(M-k,  j  o  ,„ 

Burning  f^jiring,  i    >. 

"    IJciider's  Cave,  3.1  .^ 
"    liUnil}  'd  Lane  Ilatlle 

Ground.  j    •» 
t'liippewft  Bat.  Gr'«<I,  2    «' 

"    Wliirlpool  4    .1 

"    Stamford,  4    .. 

"    Mount  DorcJiester,  D    " 

"    Rl.DavidH,  c    u 

'•    Brock's  P.Ionunifnt,  H    " 

"    Qupenstoii,  h    .» 

"  F.CeorgcnndNiag'n.  H  " 

"  St.  CatliorinpH,  10  .1 

"  ^Valcrloo  Ferry,         14  <« 

"  Fort  Kric,  j,j  .. 

"  City  of  Toronto,         r)0  ♦' 


Tlio  Whirlpool. 


II.  Xifigiira  Wivcr, 

22.  Pl;;cc  to  dcsci-iid  ihc  i,,„)k% 

A.  Prosppct  Poiiii. 

33.  Snioolli  rock,  from  wIiciut  a 

Ktonchas  bcpn  llii-o\vii  ncro^s 

the  IJivcr. 
41.  Flsliln?  croiinds, 
C.  Outlet. 

1).  iJefeclory,  British  side. 
y.  e-'nmnuT  House,  American 


hdp  IRIS 


^n.,.^ 


iv  ^^:- 


tu 


V\ 


C^iJ^!L3^1^•^£^.^^.IJ^    iM^imzs^im 


m  4 L,  t^::  ^  :  ,^  ,t  ci^'  '''''  r :!'  ^''  "^^^  ^-'^'-    ^^-At^oncn  mn,  about  320  v. 

frou.  the  Fulls   d^sc^.ub    Oir    ,       t"     ''."""^^^  to  the  Islands,  passing  over  the  rapids.     6-where 
aus,  d.sco„d,  104  feet  to  Lew..(on;  from  thenoe  seven  t^.ile.,  to  Lake  Ontario,  2  i^,L 


Ave       ^h^^^\-^(""^^'^HP\     %v  l'^' 


IRIS 

i 


N 


"     /r. 


''■■/' 


/ 


/ 


^^ 


■ '^  /  i     - .    k. 


^{\- 


^  ■ 

V  n 


.^ 


^ 


3  |f  n^ 


-j^^j^^r^^^jt^Tj^.r^jO'C^raa^:^. 


\mcricnn  Fall,  about  TySO  yards  nrounrl,  104  frcl  hi,c4,.  r'_rrr,.ent  Fall,  about  33  yards  nrn,u>r?, 
inted  nl  90  foot.  Ferry  below  the  Falls,  is  50  rods  wide;  pas^aae  from  five  to  ten  minutop.  5,084,- 
)iir  Lours.  From  200  to  250  feet,  is  the  average  height  of  the  batiks  of  the  river  around  the  Fall?, 
over  the  rapids.  6-where  Robinson  dceccnd.'d  in  the  rapids  to  enve  Chapin.  The  river  in  six  miles 
)  Lake  Ontario,  2  {<iQ\, 


>1{— i'rn:|nTt  Towrr  sujii  r«'riiit m 

S— noiiil,  wiislieil  nwny, 

V—t'rPM*wn«>r  Centre  Fall,  under 

wldMi  w  Ingrnliiuii's  riivt*. 
V— Pn|i»r  .lini. 
:i2— ''resliVlcrian  C'liurcli. 


Distances  frora  the  Araeri- 
fcan  1l6tcls,  II.  8. 

rollliitli  aiid  Iris  T.  Iirjdt.'r,     40  rnd<i| 

"   Ferry,  and  Wiirc's  Oli- 

srrvatory,  100 

"    rVrry  I^uiding,  »2.1 

'"  Horse  Shoe  Falls,  crof!- 

siiig  bridgcand  i.'^huid,   1-1 

"   Walk  Frtniid  tJ»r.  Isliind,  \  1-1 

•'    I'diiuV'irw,  3-t 

■"   .Mineral  .Spring,  'i. 

"    Whirlpodl,  8 

■"   ncvil's  Hole,  3  1-2' 

■"   Tuswirora  Indian  Village  8        ' 

"  JjPwis'on  7        ii 

""   I'orlNiat'ara  14        i-. 

"   Loikport  liy  raflroad      24       i"-- 

::    i^cli'oss'^r  s.  Ijoat  !un(I'g,  2        V. 

:'.   Tonawanda,  and  Erie 

canal  11        fi 

i:   Buffdlo  Ciiy  'io        \i 


Entered  urcording  to  Act  of  Congress,  in    tlie  year  eighteen 
hundred  and  forty-one,  by 

FAXON  &  HEAD, 

in  tiie  Clerk's  Ofl'ice  of  llie  Disiricl  Court  of  tlie  Norlliern  District 
of  Ne\v-Yori«. 


PRESS   OP  ROBT.    D.   FUV. 


TO    THE   PUBLIC. 


A  former  publicnlion  of  Ihc  aiillior  on  tlic  Falls  of 
Ningnra,  having  been  very  favorably  received,  he  haa 
been  induced  to  combine  with  it  another  subject,  alike 
interesting  to  the  travelling  community.  He  has  cur- 
tailed and  revised  his  l)ook  on  the  Falls,  and  added 
eeveral  subjects  and  incidents,  of  late  occurrence. 

As  travellers  move  along,  it  is  a  satisfaction  to  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  names  of  places  —  to  havo 
before  them  some  notice  or  remark  upon  them,  without 
the  trouble  of  inquiry;  and  when  arrived  at  the  spot  to 
which  the  tourist  had  directed  his  course,  a  directory 
at  hand,  as  this  book  is  intended  to  be,  to  point  out  to 
him  the  object  he  seeks  to  obtain,  or  the  scenes  of  in- 
terest he  came  to  view,  will  prove  to  him  a  valuable  desi- 
deratum. 

On  the  subject  of  the  mineral  waters  of  Saratoga, 
much  valuable  information,  as  to  their  qualities,  use,  and 
effects,  has  been  derived  from  highly  respectablo  citizens 
of  that  place. 


IV. 


To  vifiitors  to  the  Sprinps,  who  grncrnlly  hnvo  but 
little  leigurc  to  look  over  inedical  niilhorities,  and  but  Bniall 
chance  of  gouiing  correct  inlurination  from  personal  in- 
quiry of  individuals  into  whose  company  they  happen 
to  fall,  this  compendium  will  prove  very  useful,  in  its 
cautions  and  directions  as  to  the  use  of  the  waters. 
Those  who  wish  to  investigate  further,  will  find  in 
those  pages  references  lo  some  of  the  most  approved 
writers  on  these  subjects. 

As  not  unfitting  to  th'i  work,  the  author  has  thought 
proper  in  many  places,  to  introduco  some  subjects,  alone 
interesting  from  tbolr  locality —  incidents  of  border  war- 
fare—and descriptions  peculiar  to  the  two  great  points 
of  attraction  of  which  he  treats. 

The  author  flatters  himself  that  his  ])ul)lication  will 
not  only  perform  the  office  of  a  useful  and  faithful  guide 
to  travellers  while  on  their  tour,  but  that  it  will  also 
prove  an  agreeable  present  to  friends  and  children, 
when  they  return  refreshed  to  their  homes. 

THE  AUTHOR. 

Niagara  Falls ,  May,  1841. 


I 


I 


COxN  TENTS. 


PART  I. 

page 
Torn  TO  Raratooa  Scrincis,  Niagara  Falls  and  Canapa. 

Fstiin.i'c  of  Expenses 14 

Tlif  tour  I'f^^'tm IS 

JIikIsoii  river  siuMirry 10 

V<»iil<ors.  'rujipjm.  o't 20 

I\Io\Mit  I'lf'jis.-uit.  Siiij;  Sine,  fit- 21 

Till-  Hii;lil;iii(ls.  WcsT  l'oiiit,t''c 22 

r()iii;likf(*psic.  Hyde  I'iirk,  etc 2.") 

C'i  y  of  Alhnny 2H 

Route  to  the  Springs,  via  Schenectady 29 

"  "  "        vlii  Troy 30 

Lnnsinirlinrjrli.  Waterford.  etc .  31 

I?oii*e  from  /Ml)iiny  to  Niagara  Falls 32 

li'tle  F;dls,  I'ticu,  Syracuse,  etc 34 

Roij'e  from  Syracuse,  liy  canal,  to  Ninfffira  Falls 3.> 

'Ri'ilrojid  from  liockport  to  Nia'iara  Falls 37 

Route  ^rom  Syracuse,  l»v  Lake  Ontario 38 

"  '  "  by  Aulturu,  cu- .30 

City  of  BuflTalo,  and  distances  from  thence  on  the  Lakes.  .  .  41 

Routes  from  Niasrara  r'alls  throu<;ii  Canatia 42 

Rrantford,  Toronto,  etc 44 

Socket's  Harlior.  Kinjrston,  etc 45 

Montreal,  Qnehec,  etc 47 

Route  from  Albany  to  Boston > 49 

PART  II. 

Jattnt  to  Sarat  ■ioa  Springs. 

Arrival  at  the  Snrlnjrs « 53 

A''ipit  to  (^on^res^■  Spring rt4 

Hamilton,  1»'  "ud  the  Pavilion  Springs 56 

Analvsis  ol  ■  u  rs o7 

Flat  Hock,  fii,       I     ■■•  ,e  Springs 58 

HlL'h  Hock  Spt.u.„ 50 

Ballston  Spa 63 

Observations  on  mineral  waters 04 


VI. 

pnf6 

Thrlr  wnonn  n  drink,  nnrl  tnfrlirlnnlly []JJ 

•'        "    In  llie  balli,  uiul  hiiiliiiij,' i"^ 

Thr  cold  lialll V{ 

T\i>'  tepid  and  wiirin  hiith i'* 

Tin*  viipor  linth i'  I  '   Lj^ 

Diseases  t'nr  wiiii-li  the  Sarat()<;a  watets  are  let'oniuiendcil. .  r* 

The  vill.ijie  of  tSiirato^a f] 

IMil.tir  Mouses '" 

AiiiiiseMieiit< ; 

Coveiit  (iardt'ii,  fanilihiiir.  t'tc j - 

Hides,  halls,  and  asseiiililics jl'l 

Churches '  * 

PART  III. 

TllK  FaI.T.S  of  XiAOAnA,   WlIIIU.l'OOI,,   ISLAXnS,    &c. 

Jaunt  to  tiie  I'alls  of  Niagara.  .  % \]>y 

Descrip'ion  of  the  I'alls j  "J 

Incpiiries   answered J" 

Names  and  initials  on  llic  ro(d;s  and  trees. Ml 

Mists  around  the  l''iills,  and  op;ii'al  illusions H'^i 

Francis  Aliliott,  the  licruiit J  '4 

Alevandei's  lea]) '"ff 

Fisii  and  anjilint: [•* 

Hunting  irrounds  and  frame I'-^I* 

Road  down  the  hank IxJ. 

Point  View \}» 

Villa<re  ot  Nia^rara  Falls -  •  •    ''^'^ 

Hides  of  pleasure '•''• 

Jaunt  to  Iris  and  olhcr  islands l'|P^ 

The  l)rldy;e  to  the  island ^j- 

Bath  island J|^ 

A  darinu  enterprise ]  jjj 

Prospect  island J;"' 

Ijij/raham's  Cave *'''| 

The  Hi  Id'e  staircase '•''■ 

Horse  Shoe  Falls jC'J 

Prospect  Tower.. l-.''* 

Impressions  of  visitors 1''4 

^Vinter  scenery ]•;?« 

ghrnhs  a.  d  pi mts '-^^ 

Vei^s.  Is  '     It  over  the  Fulls !•'>" 

Ttloii:  islui.d |5i 

Th«  Low  Familv l';-* 

■William  Chamliers |Vi» 

Expedition  to  Navy  island,  and  steamboat  Caroline IhY 

Ownnunffa.  or  (irand  island IJ^ 

Jaunt  to  the  Whirlpool 1^7 

Ond  Pierce,  Esq ' '» 

Mineral  Spring *J^ 

Description  of  the  WHiirlpool 1|"- 

Benjamiu  Ilaihbun l^** 


^ 


pnte 

.  0(1 

.    OH 

"0 

.   71 

.  7H 
.  H'i 
.  H7 

.   to 

.  1>1 

.  J»'i 

.  SI.3 

.  1)1 


•     • 

.100 

I     •      • 

.101 

•     •     • 

.  I(H 

•   •    • 

.III 

•     •     * 

.  ll'i 

1     •     •   • 

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•    ■    • 

.1-24 

•  •   • 

.  1  •.!(•) 

•  •   • 

.  \'ii 

•    •     * 

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r        »        • 

13-2 

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.134 

•        •       « 

.130 

«        •        • 

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a    •     • 

.110 

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.l.)0 

•     •   • 

.151 

•    •     • 

.152 

•      •      • 

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•      •      • 

.154 

•    •  •    •  • 

.156 

•    •     • 

.158 

1      •     •    • 

.159 

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.101 

•     •     •    • 

.103 

•      •      • 

.105 

•    •     • 

.107 

•      •      - 

.170 

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»     •     •   • 

.179 

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.195 

i 


vu. 

n.ittlf   of  tlio  DoviVs  Hole '^<[l 

Tusnir«»ra  IndiuiH *J* 

Littl«"v;i:i.f ^«« 

Esiiipc  from  liidinns *"» 

Lpu  htoii .  .  . f\\ 

Five  \\\\\v  meadow *  * 

Fort  NiJiL'Jirii *'* 

•Willi.iiri  MorjiHU f^^ 

Jidiii  Carroll f^^ 

Jaunt  to  Canai.a ^-^ 

View  from  llie  stairs "•* 

Pcriloim  dos'Tiit  of  llic  ladder '-^•' 

C.-.tlhi's  Ciivf. 'f;;- 

Villa"!'  ot'  Clitioii • -*" 

Tal.l.-  I{.).'l< f^. 

Vi\<A\\'J.  miller  thf  "^liect  of  water -s-'J 

(idiiiL'  over  the  I'alls |ji>4 

C^aiial  lioat  incident I*;*'! 

f3:ininel  S  rei'f.     Col.  <  lark -•'" 

Citv  of  liic  Tails ;^J 

DrnmiHonK  ille --j- 

IJroi-U's  :Mnnnineiit -\'* 

Town  of  MaL'ara -s^" 

:>fH(Ki  r.ANKors  NoTirFS. 

Me  liriiial  vitu  's  ot  t  lie  air    .      ...»•....  !••..•••••  *■** 

4  ieolo'iv  of  Niairara  I'^ali-* • • - ' 

.lolm  Uownin'-'aiid  the  Wliirli)ool 'il!> 

l)(>ath  of   Dr.  lluML'erford |-'»'J 

Ailventure  anioiii.'  the  rapi  Is '-J^ 

Clirono'ou'ii'al  la'.dc  of  events  at  Xiau'ara  Fulls 'iu 

Distances '^^ 


I 


^ 


i 


^ ! 


H 


Note. —  The  following  Ehceis  having  been  prepared 
during  the  past  winter,  the  rates  of  fare  arc  inserted  as  es- 
tablished last  season.  On  the  following  routes  they  have 
this  ycQx   been  reduced,  and  ore  now  as  follows: 

New- York  to  Albany,  by  steamboat,  $1,00,  board  extra. 
Syracuse  to  Rochester,  by  packets,  $3,00,  and  found. 
Rochester  to  Lockport,  "        .f  2,C0 

to  Buffalo,  "        $2,75, 


H 


ERRATA. 

Page  88,  9(h  line,  for  "  G3,"  read  "  87." 
**    45,  2d     "     for  "from,"  read  "to,"  and  for  "of," 

read  "on." 
"    73,  30th  line,  for   "  intomperancc,"  read  "temper- 


ance. 


>» 


**  78,  23d  line,  for  "  wary,"  read  "  wavey." 
"  86,  2Gth  line,  for  "  fount,"  read  "  forest." 
"   126,  14th  hne,  for   "some  kind,"  read   "  the  same 

kinds." 
"    188,    9th  line,  for  "bridge,"  read  "lodge." 
"    196,  16th  line,  for  "  to  calling,"  road  "  to  the  call- 
ing." 


prepared 

ted  as  es- 
hcy  have 

• 

ird  extra. 
d  found. 

(( 


PART  I. 


THE    TOURIST. 


% 


CONTAINIVO 


for  "of," 
"temper- 


the  game 


HINTS  TO  TRAVELLERS, 

ROUTES,  DISTANCES,  CONVEYAx\C£S, 

EXPENSES, 

BESCRIPTlOxX  OF  SCENERY, 

&c.   i&C. 


>  the  call- 


•% 


•■  I 


TO  TRAVELT.ERS. 


ESTIMATE    OF    EXPENSES,    AND    OTHER    HINTS. 


"  Put  money  in  thy  purse." 


In  concluding  upon  a  tour  of  business,  of  pleasure,  or 
of  health  to  Saratoga  Springs,  to  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  or 
to  both  of  these  jilacee,  among  otlicr  calculations  and 
arrangements  it  is  customary  to  make  some  euitablo  pro- 
vision for  the  expenses,  to  consider  the  modes  of  con- 
veyance, to  count  over  the  distances,  and  to  know  the 
length  of  time  that  the  journey  will  require. 

Money.  —  This  potent  talisman,  this  charm  more  pow- 
erful than  the  sorcerer's  wand,  must  l)c  the  lirst  object  of 
the  traveller's  attention.  A  sufficient  amount  must  be 
appropriated  ;  select  such  a  stock  of  bank  bills  as  will  go 
currently  through  the  country  you  intend  to  pass.  In  the 
State  of  New- York,  Safety  Fund  and  the  General  Bank 
bills,  which  on  the  Bank  Note  List  stand  at  no  higher 
discount  than  2  per  cent,  will  answer  to  pay  expenses. 
Upper  Canada  bills  in  the  Upper  Province,  and  Lower 
Canada  bills  in  the  Lower,  will  do  the  best.  Let  your 
hills  be  a  mixture  of  small  an.d  large,  that  you  may 
t 


14 


TOUR   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS, 


'    i 


Bfi^'jjagc  —  Cljoice  of  Borllis. 


i  M 


always  be  supplied  with  change.     It  will  be  bad  policy 
to  carry  with  you  foreign,  uncurrent,  or  doubtful  bills, 
unless  you  are  disposed  to  quarrel  with  all  to  whom  you 
pay  money,  and  to  pass  as  a  suspicious  character.     Keep 
a  few  dollars  in  your  wallet  for  present  use,  and  the  resi- 
due of  your  money  in  some  secure  place  about  your  person. 
Baggage.  —  Let   it  be  as  compact,  and  in  as  small  a 
compass  as  possible.     Have  your  trunks  firmly  made  and 
well  strapped,  and  painted  on  them  your  initials,  or  full 
name,  with  place  of  residence,  in  fair  white  characters. 
If  you  travel  alone,  a  simple  valise  or  cloak  bag  only,  will 
,   cause  you  to  feel   very    independent.     The   company  of 
ladies  will  greatly  increase  your  baggage;  not  only  band- 
boxes will  be  added,  but  one  or  two  large  trunks  for  every 
lady.     Never  carry  with  you  what  is  superfluous,  but  just 
what  is  sufficient.     A  cloak,  or  over-coat,  should  not  be 
omitted.     Paul  Pry's  indisijcnsable,  an  um.brella,  can  be 
purchased  any  where  on  your   route;    and  almost  every 
other   small   article  that  you  may  require.     Put   up   no 
pills,  and  take  no  medicine  while  travelling.     Stop  when 
you  consider   medicine   necessary.      Never  lose  sight  of 
your  baggage  unless  it  is  locked  up. 

Steam-Boats. — Always  engage  your  passage  as  soon 
as  you  can.  The  farther  your  berth  is  from  the  boilers 
the  more  safe  and  pleasant  it  will  be.  If  you  come  on 
board  late  and  should  not  like  the  remaining  berths,  or  a 
settee,  insist  upon  having  one  of  the  reserved  berths. 
When  you  go  at  an  early  hour  on  board  of  a  steamboat, 
and  find  a  long  list  of  names  in  the  same  hand  writing, 
apparently  engaging  all  the  best  berths  of  the  boat,  such 
as  **Mr.  Drain,"  *<  Mr.  Lane,"  and  "ditto,"  "ditto," 


f 


NIAGARA    PALLS    AND    CANADA. 


15 


ad  policy 
Ifui  billB, 
'horn  you 
ir.     Keep 
the  reei- 
ur  person. 
8  small  a 
made  and 
Is,  or  full 
haracters. 
only,  will 
mpany  of 
inly  band- 
I  for  every 
3,  but  just 
lid  not  be 
la,  can  be 
lost  every 
Lit   up   no 
(top  when 
e  sight  of 

e  as  soon 
he  boilers 
L  come  on 
jrthe,  or  a 
;d  berths, 
jteamboat, 
d  writing, 
boat,  such 
"  ditto,** 


Railroad  Cars  —  Packet  Boats. 


or  some  similar  device,  you  may  be  sure  that  it  is  ficti- 
tious. This  is  an  every  day  practice;  and  in  this  way 
acquaintances  and  favorites  enjoy  the  best  berths,  and  the 
uniniliated  traveller  has  to  put  up  with  what  he  can  get. 

Railroad  Cars.  —  The  cars  from  the  engine  to  the 
centre  have  the  least  motion,  and  are  considered  the 
easiest,  and  those  in  the  rear  the  safest.  But  in  these, 
or  in  other  respects,  upon  railroads,  there  is  little  choice. 
Very  little  advice  can  be  given  as  to  avoiding  accidents. 
Do  not  sufler  yourself  to  sleep  in  the  cars;  take  your 
seats  before  the  cars  start,  and  do  not  get  out  until  they 
have  stopped.  Always  ascertain  the  hour  of  starting  and 
be  on  the  ground  a  few  minutes  before.  Ever  have  your 
eyes  around  you,  and  keep  out  of  harm's  way  Never 
ride  upon  railroads  in  the  night,  unless  it  is  really  neces- 
sary that  you  should  hasten  your  journey.  Railroad 
travelling  at  night  is  very  uncomfortable,  and  is  attended 
with  more  danger  than  during  the  day. 

Packet  Boats.  —  Enter  your  name  as  soon  as  you  get 
on  board,  that  you  may  have  a  berth  if  you  should  remain 
over  night.  Do  not  put  your  head  out  of  the  cabin  win- 
dows; keep  below  as  much  as  practicable,  and  when  on 
deck  look  ahead  for  the  bridges,  and  before  passing  them 
come  down  on  the  lower  after  deck.  For  the  feeble,  and 
Ihose  who  are  worn  out  with  fatigue,  the  canal  boat  af- 
fords  the  best  accommodations.  It  glides  along  so  quietly 
that  you  can  repose  and  slumber  as  undisturbedly  as  in 
your  own  c'aamber. 

Stage  Coaches —  Of  these  old  fashioned  conveyances 
little  need  be  said.  Ladies  are  always  accommodated 
with  the  back  seat.     The  middle  scat  is  the  easiest,  the 


;i 


16 


TOUR   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS, 


Mii 


I  lii 


n 


Fure  —  Price  of  lioard. 


front  seat  the  best  to  sleep  on;  but  if  you  arc  subject  to 
sickness  when  riding,  always  avoid  it.  Potit  coaches,  if 
not  crowded  with  too  many  passengers,  over  good  roads, 
in  fair  weather,  ofibrd  the  most  safe  and  agreeable  mode 
of  transit  of  any  other;  but  the  fly-away  character  of 
travellers  is  fast  driving  them  out  of  use.  From  these 
vehicles  the  scenery  of  the  country  cnn  always  be  advan- 
tageously viewed;  and  as  the  wheels  roll  on,  the  hours 
pass  in  social  chat,  free  remark,  amusing  anecdotes  and 
gay  sallies,  often  truly  pleasant  and  interesting. 

Newspapers.  —  On  leaving  a  city,  or  other  place  of 
importance,  before  the  boat  or  cars  move  off,  buy  the 
latest  and  most  interesting  papers.  On  meeting  another 
boat,  or  train  of  cars,  have  some  papers  ready  to  exchange. 
In  this  way,  as  you  will  generally  travel  in  advance  of 
the  mail,  you  will  c  , ;  find  yourself  in  possession  of  the 
iatest  news.  On  boar,  .f  boats  and  at  public  houses  leave 
papers,  but  abstract  none.  Destroying  and  stealing  news- 
papers is  not  an  original  Yankee  practice.  That  Vandal- 
ism, with  others  of  a  like  nature,  should  be  frowned 
down. 

From  New- York  to  Saratoga,  vin.  Albany  and  Troy, 
the  highest  rate  of  fare  usually  charged  is  $4,75.  The 
lowest  rate  will  amount  to  very  little  more  than  half  that 
sum.     By  the  way  of  Schenectady  it  may  cost  $5. 

The  traveller  may  leave  New- York  in  the  afternoon 
steamboat,  and  be  in  Saratoga  the  next  day  before  dinner; 
and  if  he  pleases  may  be  back  again  in  New- York  the 
succeeding  morning,  having  accomplished  his  visit  in  36 
hours. 

Without  reference  to  baggage  and  superfluities,  $5,75 


# 


i 


jubjcct  to 
ooches,  if 
>od  roads, 
ible  mode 
iracter  of 
•om  these 
be  advan- 
the  hours 
dotes  and 

place  of 
buy  the 
g  another 
exchange, 
dvance  of 
ion  of  the 
uses  leave 
ing  news- 
it  Vandal- 
3  frowned 

nd  Troy, 
,75.  The 
1  half  that 
|5. 

afternoon 
re  dinner; 
-York  the 
^ieit  in  36 


NTACARA    FALLS!    AND    CANADA. 


17 


lUffcTent  Roiilos,  and  cost. 


les, 


55,75 


is  an  ample  sum  to  pay  all  necessary  expenses  from  New- 
York  to  Saratoga. 

At  Snratotrn  the  price  of  board  per  week  is  from  $10  to 
$)2,  nt  tlH!  best  hotcJB;  and  per  dny  from  ,f  1,50  to  $2. 

The  oflior  public  liousoa  ehnrgo  from  $i  (o  $7  per 
week;  and  from  $1  to  $'l,or,  ^rr  day. 

Privnle  boarding  hoiiwH,  of  wbieb  there  arc  a  great 
number,  cliarge  from  ^'i  to  $12  per  week. 

Of  other  expenses  at  the  Springs,  it  is  unnecessary  1o 
speak:  they  may  be  moderate  or  cxtrnvngnnt,  according 
to  the  notions  or  rlmrneter  of  the  individnnl.  As  the  pri^ 
CCS  of  lu-ovisions  have  fallen,  the  cost  of  living  to  travei- 
lerf^  it  is  expected,  will  be  reduced. 

P>om  the  city  of  New- York  to  Niagnra  Falls,  or  to  the 
city  of  T3nll)do,  to  the  ordinary  traveller  or  tourist,  the 
usual  expense,  when  the  journey  is  performed  direct,  by 
steamboats,  railroads,  stages  and  jiackets,  will  be  between 
$20  and  $22,  and  will  include  all  that  is  respectable  and 
necessary. 

Three  days  is  as  short  a  time  as  should  be  allowed  for 
the  journey.  Those  who  are  interested  in  diflbrent  routes 
advertise  a  shorter  period,  but  it  is  very  seldom  done  in 
less  than  three  days,  and  is  frequently  more.  Travelling 
even  at  such  a  rate,  is  often  more  fatiguing  than  pleasant. 

The  expenses  of  living  at  Niagara  Falls,  and  Buffalo, 
varies  but  little  from  the  like  expenses  at  Saratoga,  ex- 
cepting at  some  of  the  most  fashionable  Hotels;  and  those 
being  equal  to  similar  establishments  in  New- York  city, 
arc  not  backward  in  imitating  them  in  their  bills;  bank 
note  paper,  beautiful  vignette,  copy  hand,  round  numbers. 
There  is  an  economical  mode  of  conveyance  that  it  may 


ij 


I'l 


111 


18 


TOUR    TO    SARATOC.A    SPRINGS, 


Stf*iuiil)0!itH  from  Ncw-Vork. 


be  interesting  for  eniigrnntH'  nnd  lliuHo  Iruvcllcrs  who 
study  economy  more  tlinn  speed,  to  know:  it  is  by  the 
steam  tow  boats  on  the  Hudson  river,  and  i'reight  boats 
on  the  canal. 

By  one  line  the  passenger  is  carried  through  from  New- 
York  to  Bullido  in  six  days,  with  board,  for  j|ll,  and 
without  board  for  ^7,50. 

On  another  line  he  is  carried  through  in  seven  days, 
without  board,  for  , 1^0,50. 

On  board  of  the  freiglit  boats  the  passage  \k'Y  mile, 
is  H  cent,  and  2  cents  with  board. 

The  fare  on  board  of  the  packet  Iwats,  with  board,  is 
usually  4  cents  per  mile. 


I  M 


!     i  i 


THE   TOIR    BEGUN. 


'  "  Land  of  flie  forest  and  tlie  rock — 

Of  dark  blue  lake  and  niighly  river  •, 
Of  mountains  rcar'u  aloft  to  mock 
The  storm's  career,  the  lightning's  shock— 
My  own  green  land  forever  I 
liand  of  the  lieantiful  and  brave. 
The  freeman's  liome,  the  martyr's  grave." 

Much  of  the  information  that  follows  has  been  obtained 
from  actual  observation  and  experience;  the  residue  has 
been  gathered  from,  and  collated  with  the  best  autho- 
rities. 

The  usual  mode  of  conveyance  to  Albany  is  by  steam- 
boats.    Several  pass  and  re- pass  every  day.     The  passcn- 


llcrs  who 
8  by  the 
gilt  boats 

om  Ncw- 

|I1,  and 

roil  days, 

per  mile, 

board,  is 


n  obtained 
esidue  has 
est  autlio- 

by  etcam- 
'he  posscn- 


1 


i 


NIA(}ARA    FALLS    AND    CANADA. 


10 


AVVpIiiiwlvPH  —  IJiiIl's  Forry. 


gcr  boats  t^tart  in  New- York  IVom  the  foot  of  Courlland 
street,  and  from  the  foot  of  JJarclry  street.  Jn  Albany 
they  start  from  the  pier  at  the  foot  of  State  street,  and  at 
the  foot  of  flnniilton  street.  The  day  boats  go  at  6 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  the  night  boats  at  5  o'clock 
ill  the  afternoon.  The  fare  through  is  commonly  f3, 
meals  extra,  50  cents.  Competition  sometimes  carries 
the  fare  down  to  50  cents. 

Besides  the  passenger  boats  there  are  also  several  freight 
or  tow  boat?,  which  pass  daily  between  the  two  cities. 
Their  price  is  $1  for  passage,  and  meals  extra,  or  the 
passenger  finds  himaelf. 

To  those  who  have  never  been  up  the  Hudson,  a  day 
passage  is  recommended.  Always  to  sleep  in  passing  over 
this  noblest  of  rivers,  and  to  loose  the  view  of  the  varie- 
gated scenery  along  its  banks,  evinces  an  unpardonable 
ajiathy  to  the  beauties  of  nature  and  the  improvements 
of  man. 

Weehawkcn,  New- Jersey,  3  miles  from  New- York, 
and  145  from  Albany,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river 
—  it  commands  a  line  view  of  the  city.  The  range 
of  rocks  called  the  Palisadoes,  begin  to  make  their  ap- 
pearance here,  and  continue  22  miles.  The  Monument 
where  Alexander  Hamilton  fell  in  a  duel  with  Aaron 
Burr,  is  observed  near  the  water's  edge.  In  former  days 
when  duelling  was  more  practiced  by  the  citizens  of  New- 
York  than  it  happily  is  at  present,  this  spot  was  the  cho- 
sen place  for  settling  points  of  honor. 

Bull's  Ferry,  west  side,  New-Jersey,  is  10  miles  from 
New- York,  and  138  from  Albany.  Near  this  place  the 
Palisadoes  begin  to  assume  a  perpendicular  attitude  of 
from  3  to  400  feet. 


H 


i 
'A 


*  I'i 


!  Si 


I 


20  TOI'R    TO    SAHATOC-A    KPRr\(JS, 

Fori  Liv  —  Vojikors  —  Pirrpoiii. 

Fort  Lee,  11  miles  Iroin  Nnw-York,  niul  i:J7  from  Al- 
bany, on  tho  brow  of  tbc  I'liIiHiulooH,  !5()0  feet  from  Ibo 
wnter.  Opposite,  on  York  I^Innd,  nrc  the  vcflti|TC8  of 
Fort  VVnHbinfi;ton.  In  the  llovolution,  n  finiiken  chcvnnx 
(Ic  frine  exIciKh^l  from  one  side  of  tho  river  to  the  other. 

Yonkerrt,  or  riiinipfibiirgh,  eaflt  side,  WeslcheHler  ro. 
N.  Y.  is  10  jMileH  from  New-York,  and  ]I)'2  from  Albany. 
The  Bjiire  of  the  church,  and  a  men^  glimppo  of  the  vil- 
lage is  oblnined  as  the  8tenml)oa<  pnenes  Imnlily  along. 
Here  still  filands  the  Hiibfelnntinl  old  mansion  Iiouho  of 
the  Phillips  fnniily,  once  the  head  of  Phillipw'  mnnor; 
and  a  venerable  Etii,diHh  church,  still  oecujjied  by  nn 
Episcopal  congregntion,  many  of  (hem  the  dcsccndnnts 
of  the  first  settlers.  A  fine  mill  slrt^nm  puts  into  the 
Hudson.  Tho  formation  of  the  ground,  and  the  large 
fruit  and  shade  trees  that  cluster  around,  make  this  a 
beautiful  place. 

Between  this  and  the  city  of  New-York,  the  river  on 
t\\e  east  side,  with  the  exception  of  some  rough  and  rocky 
heights,  is  lined  with  highly  cultivated  farms  and  si)lcn- 
did  country  scats. 

Tappan,  west  side,  Rockland  co.  N.  Y.  is  23  miles 
from  New- York,  and  125  from  Albany.  From  hence  to 
its  source,  the  whole  course  of  the  Hudson  is  through 
the  State  of  New- York.  Tappan  village  is  hid  from 
view. 

Pierpont,  west  side,  Rockland  co.  N.  Y.  is  25  miles 
from  New- York,  and  123  from  Albany.  The  great 
southern  railroad,  which  is  to  extend  to  Lake  Eric, 
commences  at  this  place.  Here  the  river  expands  to 
three  miles  in  width  and  used  to  be  called  Tappan  sea;  it 


I 


NIAGARA    FALLS    AND    CANADA. 


21 


t'roni  Al- 
from  llio 

Cflli|TC8    of 

I  chcvnux 
w  other. 
.108  (cr  CO. 

II  Albany. 
)f  the  vil- 
ily  niong. 

house  of 
'  iiiniior; 
(1  by  mi 
scciulnnts 
I  into  tlic 
Hie  lar<^e 
to    this  a 

)  river  on 
ind  rocky 
nd  flplcn- 

23  miles 

hence  to 

through 

bid  from 

25  miles 
'he  great 
ke  Erie, 
qiande  to 
m  sea;  it 


f^inir  Sill!?  Prison  —  Aniliony's  Nose;. 


is  now   less  dignilie.l,  nnd  is  only  termed    Tnpi.nn  boy. 
Not  ffir  from  this  viUnge,  Major  Andre  was  executed. 

Tarrylovvn,  ca.st  side,  2li  mdes  from  New- York,  and 
V22  iVoiM  Albmiy  — Noted  as  the  'ace  where  Major  An- 
dre wad  ciii)lured. 

Above  'i^ni-rylown,  and  extendir?  ■  Sing  Si  g,  there 
rises  lioni  the  shore  on  the  east  side,  ...ant  Pleasant,  a 
commantbrig  and  delightful  trad,  presenting  iicin  the 
river  a  most  beautiful  prosjjoct  of  rural  scenery. 

Sing  Sing,  east  side,  WcKlehester  co.  .-^2  nn'Ies  from 
New- York,  and  }W  fr„m  Albany,  is  the  location  of  one 
of  the  New- York  Slate  Prisons.  It  was  built  by  the 
convicts  from  Iho  marble  got  from  the  premises.  The 
Croton  AcqueducI,  which  is  to  supply  the  city  of  New- 
York  wilh  water,  commences  near  this  place. 

Ilaverslraw,  west  side,  ]lockland  co.  38  miles  from 
New- York,  aiul  IJO  from  Albany.  The  river  in  front 
is  called  llaverstraw  bay.  Further  up  the  river,  in  this 
township,  arc  vestiges  of  Stony  Point,  and  Forts  Clin, 
ton  and  Montgomery,  famous  in  the  events  of  the  Rev- 
olution. 

Croton,  east  side,  Westchester  co. 
Cortlajid,       <'  << 

Peekskill,  cast  side,  Westchester  co.  44  miles  from  New 
York,  and  104  from  Albany. 

The  Inst  mentioned  village  is  a  thriving  place.  Ver- 
planck's  Point  is  in  the  same  township,  upon  which  onco 
stood  Fort  Fayette,  now  scarcely  dieccrnable. 

Anthony's  Nose,  on  the  east  side,  44  miles  from  New. 
York,  and  104  from  Albany,  a  high  bluff  of  1128  feet, 
in  former  days,  before  steamboals   abolished   time    and 


■«ik1 


ill! 


22 


TOUR    TO    RARATOOA    SPRINGS, 


I 


!      i 


West  Point  —  Miiifary  Aciulciiiy. 


Bpncc  in  travelling,  Ihn  i)aB8ing  of  the  noec  wns  to  the 
nnvigntors  of  the  ll\ulfl(>n,  what  crossing  the  line  is  to 
sailors  on  the  ocean;  the  novice  was  obliged  to  pay  a 
forfeit,  which  was  devoted  to  the  increase  of  red  noses. 
It  is  not  contended  hy  those  who  have  seen  this  promon- 
tory that  it  hns  any  great  resemhlnnce  to  a  nose. 

The  river  narrows  in  jinssing  through  the  Highlands, 
which  extends  nearly  12  miles,  presenting  on  coch  side 
noble  and  picturesque  scenes;  high  acclivities,  sloping 
heights,  and  deep  ravines,  advance  and  recede  before  the 
opectator  ab  the  boat  drives  along. 

West  Point,  west  side,  Orange  co.  Fort  !  iitnam,  53 
miles  from  New- York,  and  1)5  from  Albany.  At  this 
memorable  place  in  the  Revolution,  there  was  a  chain 
stretched  across  the  river,  intended  to  cut  off  the  nav- 
jtration  from  below;  but  the  British  in  1777,  succeeded 
in  removing  it,  and  passed  up  the  river  as  far  as  the 
village  of  Kingston,  which  they  mercilessly  burnt.  The 
Military  Academy  was  established  here  in  1802.  250 
students  arc  only  admitted.  The  sons  of  revolutionary 
officers  have  the  first  claim;  those  of  deceased  officers  of 
the  last  war  the  second.  Pupils  arc  only  admitted  be- 
tween the  ages  of  14  and  22.  There  are  30  Professors. 
A  cadet  costs  the  government  $336  annually.  The  period 
of  study  is  4  years.  They  encamp  6  or  8  weeks  each 
year.  A  well  kept  hotel  is  established  at  West  Point, 
for  the  accommodation  of  visitors. 

It  may  be  justly  observed  as  respects  the  Military 
Academy — its  operation  is,  on  one  hand,  to  make  scien- 
tific and  patrician  officers,  and  on  the  other  degraded  and 
plebian   soldiers.     For  republicans,  the   present  military 


NIAfJARA    FAF.LH    AND    CANADA. 


23 


Milimry  Aciidciny. 


^'nH  to  the 
line  ia  to 
I  to  pay  a 
red  nosofl. 
is  promon- 

highlands, 

each  side 

3B,  eloping 

before  the 

lit  nam,  53 
.  At  this 
as  a  chain 
r  the  nav- 

succeeded 

far  as  the 

irnt.     The 

.802.     250 

^olutionary 

officers  of 
mitted  be- 
Professors. 
The  period 
veeks  each 
''est  Point, 

e  Military 
lake  scien- 
graded  and 
it  military 


i 


I 


eyHlcni  is  a    bad  one,  allogdher  incompatible  with  tho 
|)rinciple8  of  democracy;  principles  so  d'^arly  cherished  by 
all  parlies  of  the  Americnn  people.     At  present,  the  sol- 
dier,  however  meritorious  he  may  be,  is  cut  of  from  all 
chance  of  promotion,  and  all  appointments  to  office  arc 
made  by  the  grace;  and  favor  of  the  rich  and  influential. 
Jt  is  not  denied  but  that  the  present  officers  of  the  army 
are  highly  respectable;  eiiuaily  true  it  is,  that  the  private 
soldiers  are  in  the  very  lowest  state.     In  so  low  an  esti- 
mation k  the  army  held,  that  it  is  with  the  utmost  diffi- 
culty  recruits  are  obtained  to  fill  the  ranks  of  the  i)resent 
small  establishment.     Do  away  with  favoritism;   let  the 
government    make    every    fort  and   garrison  a   military 
school;  illowof  no  promotion  except  from  the  ranks:   <'He 
that  would  command,  must  first  learn  to  serve;"  ^nd  tho 
profession  would  soon  become  honorable.     There  would 
be  no  need  of  increasing  the  pay,  of  giving  bounties,  or 
of  drumming  up  for  recruits  in  the  present  vulgar  way, 
at  taverns  and  grog  fihoi)8.     A  live  years  term  of  service 
would  be  but  a  course  of  education  mixed  with  military 
duties.     Study,   and  the  pursuits  of   useful  knowledge, 
would  take  the  place  of  idleness  and  dissipation;  and  tho 
army,  instead  of  being  shunned  as  the  last  resource  of  the 
most  degraded,  would  soon  be  filled  with  the  eUte  of  tho 
brave  and  youthful  of  the  country.     Such  a  system  would 
not  only  be  novel,  but  great  and  exalting.     A  national 
army,  composed  of  the  youth  of  the  land,  emulating  each 
other  in  the  studies  to  fit  them  for  the  double  capacity  of 
citizens  and  soldiers;  forming  at  all  times  a  powerful  body 
of  men,  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  war;  or  in  peace,  to 
maintain  the  supremacy  of  the  laws  and   the   integrity 
of  the  Union. 


Jh 


/. 


24 


TOUR   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS, 


il: 


\>    :. 


oM  Spring  —  Nnwhui'.'li. 


Cold  Spring,  east  side,  Putnam  co.  53  niilea  from 
New- York,  and  95  from  Albany.  The  West  Point  Fonn- 
dry  is  at  this  village.  Of  the  hills  in  thia  part  of  the 
highlands,  Crow's  Nest,  on  the  west  side,  is  a  high  peak. 
Butter  Hill,  is  the  last  of  the  range  of  mounts  on  the 
west  side.     It  is  1589  feet  high. 

Bull  Hill,  on  the  cast  side,  is  1480  feet. 
Break-neck  Hill,  on  the  cast  side.     On  a  part  of  the 
rock  on  the  south  side,  there  is  a  fancied  resemblance  to 
the  human  countenance.     It  is  called  the  Turk's  face. 

New  Windsor,  on  the  west  side.  Near  this  village 
there  still  stands  a  house  in  which  General  Washington 
resided  with  his  family  nearly  all  the  winter  of  1774. 

Newburgh,  west  side,  C2  miles  from  New- York,  and 
86  from  Albany.  It  is  the  half-shire  town  of  Orange 
CO.  A  fine  stream  of  water  spreads  over  this  township, 
and  affords  many  mill  privileges.  The  farmers  arc 
wealthy— -great  enterprise  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
the  citizens  of  Newburgh.  Many  roads  concentrate  at 
this  place,  and  much  business  is  done.  Large  quantities 
of  butter,  and  of  the  finest  quality,  arc  here  shipped  for 
the  New- York  market.  Tlic  place  has  a  fine  appearance 
from  the  river.  Passengers  to  the  southern  tier  of  coun- 
ties frequently  disembark  here,  and  take  the  Ithaca  stage, 
which  runs  daily. 

Fishkill  Landing,  cast  side,  Dutchess  co.  C2  miles  from 
New- York,  and  80  from  Albany.  It  is  nearly  opposite 
Newburgh,  and  is  5  miles  from  Fishkill  village.  The 
MatteaM-an  Cotton  Factory  at  this  place,  gives  employ- 
ment to  300  persons. 
New   Hamburgh,    cast  side,  Dutchess   co.    (>?    miles 


from 


siness 


i 


LI  i  ■ 


NIA(JARA    PALLS    AND    CANADA. 


25 


08  from 
nt  Fonn- 
rt  of  the 
gh  peak. 
s  on  the 


rt  of  the 
blance  to 
!  face. 
8  village 
ishiiigton 
774. 

fork,  and 
f  Orange 
township, 
mors  arc 
g  trait  of 
3ntratc  at 
quanlitiea 
lipped  for 
ppcurancc 
r  of  coiin- 
aca  stage, 

nilcs  from 
/  opi)08itc 
ge.  The 
8  employ - 


Poiijihkocpsio  —  Hyde  Park. 


Kff 


miles 


h-om  x\ow-York,  and  81  from  Albany.  This  is  an  active 
liUlc  village,  with  a  good  landing,  Rtore-hoiieee,  draw- 
bridge, and  other  improvements  indicative  of  prosperity. 

Milton,  west  side,  Ulster  co.  GS  miles  from  New- York, 
and  80  milea  from  Albany.  The  inhabitants  arc  princi- 
pally  dcBcendants  of  English  families  settled  here  at  an 
early  period. 

New  Pnllz,  west  side,  Ulster  co.  70  miles  from  New- 
York,  and  73  from  Albany.  This  is  a  well  improved 
portion  of  country.  The  farms  arc  good  and  well  cul- 
tivated. The  ijihabitunts  arc  of  Dutch  descent,-  their 
ancestors  settled  here  as  long  ago  as  1G70.  Substantial 
stone  houses  indicate  the  foresight  and  good  condition  of 
the  citizens. 

Poughkeepsie,   east  side,  76  miles  from  New- York,  and 
72  from    Albany.     It  is  the    county  town  of  Dutchess. 
The   principal  portion  of   the   village    is    hid  from   the 
river.     The  streets  are  neatly  kid  out,  and  shaded  with 
ornamental  trees.     A  fine  creek  with  many  mill  privile- 
ges,   run  along   the  north  part  of  the   village,  aflbrding  ' 
many  in-st  rate  sites  for  manufactories:  several  of  which 
are  already  in  successful  operation.     Poughkeepsie  stands 
among  the  foremost  river  towns  in  the  extent  of  its  bu- 
siness, and  wealth  of  its  inhabitants. 

Hyde  Park,  east  side,  Dutchess  co.  82  miles  from 
New- York,  and  CG  from  Albany.  The  village  of  Hyde 
Park  is  near  the  centre  of  the  township,  but  there  are 
several  landing  places  oii  the  river.  It  is  a  beautiful 
township  oi  land,  and  noted  as  being  the  residence  of  se- 
veral gcnllemen  of  eminence,  wealth  and  taste. 
Rhinebeck,  east  side.  Diiti'h"=-«  r-i  nA__-i-  r 
o 


I 


'iniik 


"4 

■1 


m 


HMi!'! 


26 


TOUR    TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS, 


Kinsrstoii  —  I'alHkill  Mouiiliiiiis 


York,  and  58  from  Albany.  It  was  settled  by  Germans 
nt  an  early  day.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  arc  tenants 
to  large  proprietors,  but  the  great  estates  are  frittering 
away,  and  the  number  of  freeholders  are  gradually  in- 
creasing. 

Kingston,  west  side,  Ulster  co.  90  miles  from  New- 
York,  and  58  from  Albany.  It  is  the  county  seat,  and 
lies  three  miles  west  of  the  Hudson  from  Kingston  Lan- 
ding, which  is  opposite  to  Khinebeck.  Before  it  was 
burnt  by  the  British  in  1777,  it  was  called  Esopus.  It 
was  settled  by  the  Dutch,  in  IC16.  On  the  south  bounds 
of  the  township  of  Kingston,  Walkill  creek  passes  into 
the  Rondout,  which  here  enters  the  Hudson.  One  mile 
from   the  river  is  the  termination  of  the  Delaware  and 

Hudson  canal. 

Lower  Red  Hook  Landing,  east  side,  Dutchess  co. 
is  9G  miles  from  New-York,  and  52  from  Albany.  — 
There  is  an  Upper  Landing  of  this  name,  and  a  Post- 
Office  at  each.  The  township  is  wealthy,  and  among  its 
inhabitants  are  some  of  the  oldest  and  most  considerable 
names  of  the  State.  Several  branches  of  the  Livingston 
family  reside  here,  and  their  seats  are  distinguished  by 
choice  of  location  and  elegance  of  structure. 

Saugerties,  west  side,  Ulster  co.  103  miles  from  New- 
York,  and  45  from  Albany.  The  village  is  a  mile  west  of 
the  Landing. 

Catskill,  west  side,  Greene  co.  112  miles  from  New- 
York,  and  36  from  Albany.  A  line  of  stages  run  from 
here  to  Ithaca,  as  well  as  from  Newburgh.  Tasscngers 
intending  to  visit  the  Pine  Orchard,  which  is  distant 
about  9  miles  irom  the  Hudson,  and  is  elevated  3000  feet 


A 


I 


jrerinans 

tenants 

rittering 

lally   in- 

im  New- 
seat,  and 
ton  Lan- 
e  it  was 
opus.  It 
h  bounds 
isses  into 
One  mile 
ware  and 

chess  CO. 
Llbany.  — 
d  a  Post- 
among  its 
msiderablc 
Livingston 
fuished  by 

rom  New- 
ile  west  of 

rom  Ncw- 
I  run  from 
Passengers 
is  distant 
a  3000  fuel 


l;i 


I 
I 


NIACAl^A    PALLS    AND    CANADA. 


27 


Hudson  —  Atliciis  —  0\  erHluiijrli. 


above  tide  wafer,  disembark  at  this  place.  The  Moun- 
tain H0U8C,  and  the  majestic*  scenery  of  the  Catskill 
Mountains,  are  nnich  frequented  by  travellers. 

The  city  of  Hudson,  east  side,  111)  miles  from  New- 
York,  and  29  from  Albany,  is  the  capital  of  Columbia 
county.  Considerable  foreign  commerce  is  carried  on 
from  this  city,  and  especially  the  whaling  business  has 
been  j)r()secutcd  with  much  energy.  Those  who  visit 
hvhnium  Springs,  aiul  the  Slinker's  village,  debark  here, 
atid  take  the  Jludson  and  Borkehire  railroad,  which  runs 
through  Lebanon,  and  conveys  passengers  to  the  Springs 
for  $1  ,()2|,  The  water  of  these  Springs  is  at  the  uniform 
temperature  of  72^  Fahreidieit.  It  is  agitated  by  a  con- 
stant ennssion  of  nitrogen  and  azotic  gas,  and  the  place  is 
bcconu'ngone  of  considerable  .esort. 

Athens,  119  nu"les  from  New- York,  and  29  from  Alba- 
dy,  lies  opposite  Hudson,  in  Greene  co.  It  is  incorpora- 
ted, and  the  village  rises  pleasantly  from  the  river.  Here 
is  the  dose  of  ship  navigation. 

Coxsackie,  west  side,  Greene  co.  127  miles  from  New- 
York,  ajul  21  from  Albany. 

Kinderhook  Laiuling,  east  side,  Columbia  co.  132  miles 
from  New- York,  and  16  from  Albany. 

New  Baltimore,  west  side,  Greene  co.  134  miles  from 
New- York,  and  14  from  Albany. 

Coeymans,  west  side,  Albany  co.  137  miles  from  New- 
York,  and  11  from  Albany. 

Schodack  Landing,  Rensselaer  co.  138  miles  from  New- 
York,  and  10  from  Albany. 

The  Overslaugh,  145  miles  from  New- York,  and  3 
from  Albany,  is  a  shallow  and   difficult  part  of  the  river, 


i 


'f^l^w 


! 


28 


TOUR   TO    SARATOGA   SPRINGS, 


Ciiy  of  Albiiiiy. 


where  vcBsels  are  often  grounded,  and  the  larger  class  of 
Steamboats  are  occasionnUy  obliged  to  stop,  ntul  have  their 
passengers  conveyed  to  the  city  by  smaller  boats. 


i!   I 


\i    I- 


1,1 


THE    CITY    OF    ALBANY. 

"  Co  forth  into  the  fioMs, 

Ye  denizens  of  tlio- pent  city's  mart '. 
Go  forth  and  know  tlie  jiladness  nature  yiehlg 
To  the  cure  wearied  heart." 

The  capital  of  the  State  of  New- York  is  in  latitude  42° 
39'  99''  north.  In  magnitude  and  importance,  it  is  the 
eecond  city  in  the  State. 

At  Albany,  travellers  usually  make  such  stay  as  their 
amusement,  business  or  interest  demands.  Few  leave  the 
city  by  the  first  conveyance  after  their  arrival.  The  ob- 
jects of  interest  about  the  city  are  first  to  be  seen,  some 
business  is  to  be  performed,  or  some  new  arrangements  to 
be  made  for  the  further  prosccul  ion  of  their  journey. 

As  the  tour  to  the  Springs  is  not  direct  to  the  Falls  of  Ni- 
agara, the  different  routes  will  be  here  distinctly  described 
to  the  traveller.  During  his  stay  at  Albany,  if  he  takes 
the  subject  into  consideration,  by  having  the  necessary  in- 
formation before  him,  he  will  be  better  enabled  to  make  up 
his  mind  as  to  his  future  progress. 


h] 


w 


NTAOAriA    FALLS    AND    CANADA. 


29 


f^cheiuTtJ'.dy  —  IJallsloii  iSpa. 


r  class  of 
tiave  their 


l9 


atilude  42° 
3,  it  ie  the 

ny  as  their 

vv  leave  the 

:.     The  ob- 
seen,  some 

igemente  to 

rncy. 
Falls  of  Ni- 

ly  described 
if  he  takes 

lecessary  in- 
to make  up 


ROUTE    TO    SAIIAT0(^A    RPRLXGS,    FROM    ALBANY, 
VIA    SCHENf^CTADY. 

Tbo  railrond  oflipo  f  )r  Scbciicotndy  and  wcetorn  coun- 
try, and  for  Snraloga,  will  be  readily  found,  at  the  upiicr 
<Mi(l  of  State  street,  on  the  riirht  Ride,  a  sliort  distance  be- 
fore reaching?  the  capitol.  The  fnj-c,  usually  $2,  to  Sara- 
toga, is  paid  at  this  oillce. 

The  city  of  Schenectady,  10  miles  from  Albany  and  22 
from  Saratoga,  is  the  capital  of  the  county  of  the  same 
name  — it  lies  by  the  side  of  the  Mohawk  river,  which 
lK)unds  it  on  the  west.  ItiP  an  old  place,  and  in  its  early 
day  the  inhai)itnn(s  sulTored  severely  from  the  incursions 
of  the  savages.  The  Erie  canal  passes  through  Schenec- 
tady, and  it  is  a  great  thoroughfare  for  travellers,  but  their 
stay  here  is  very  short,  the  greatest  number  having  barely 
time  to  pass  from  one  set  of  cars  to  another. 

On  leaving  Schenectady,  the  cars  pass  over  a  fine  rail- 
road bridge,  and  then  turn  in  a  northern  direction. 

Ballston  Spa,  31  miles  from  Albany,  and  7  from  Sara- 
toga, is  the  county  scat  of  Saratoga  county.  It  is  a  place 
of  considerable  importance,  and  it  is  evident  that  there  has 
been  no  lack  of  cntcrpise  on  the  part  of  the  inhabitants,  yet 
it  is  equally  plain  that  it  is  not  now  advancing.  The  med- 
ical Si)ring8  at  this  place  once  stood  in  the  highest  estima- 
tion; the  visiting  community  gathered  round  them,  and 
the  public  houses  were  crowded.  The  :San3  Sotici,  a 
very  large  and  spacious  hotel,  was  erected;  but  Saratoga 
has  grown  into  popularity,  and  Ballston  has  been  measura- 
bly deserted.     Still  however,  in  the  summer  season,  it  has 

a*; 


■"HI"" 


•  L    .    l|ltl 


• 

lis 

,    1 

i 

11 

1 

i 


;i! 


I 


30 


TOUR   TO    SARATOGA    SPRIX08, 


Wiitcrv  lict  —  Troy 


a  shnro  ot'lho  luisiir'ss;  ninny  bunrders  sojourn  nl  the  \nih\\c 
houses,  mid  the  visitors  nro  conslnntly  jmssinir  iVoin  one 
viDnge  t»)  Iho  other.  The  line  t»n  the  raih-oad  hetweeii 
(licsn  two  jilaces,  ifl  37i  cents. 

PasflinS  fnMn  IJallHton,  the  7  niih^s  nro  soon  run  over, 
and  the  traveller  is  landed  at  {Saratoga,  J58  miles  from  Al- 
bany. 


ROUTE   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS    PROM    ALBANY, 

VIA    TROY. 

A  steamboat  generally  runs  hourly  back  and  forth  from 
Albany  to  Troy;  the  fare  is  usually  12J  cents.  Stages  run 
every  half  hour  —  they  will  take  you  up  at  the  public  hou- 
ses, and  put  you  down  in  any  place  you  direct.  The  fare 
is  25  cents. 

Watcrvlict,  or  West  Troy,  on  the  west  side  of  tlie  Hud- 
son, 5  miles  from  Albany,  and  IM  from  Saratoga,  is  a 
smart  and  growing  village.  A  United  States  Arsenal,  of 
considerable  magnitude,  is  maintained  at  this  jilace. 

The  city  of  Troy,  on  the  cast  Eidt  of  the  river,  6  miles 
from  Albany,  and  33  from  Saratoga,  is  the  county  seat 
of  Rensselaer.  The  river  is  here  about  900  feet  wide,  and 
the  tides  of  the  ocean  arc  perceptible  in  a  slight  rise  and 
fall  of  the  water.  This  Troy  is  hardly  less  famed  than  its 
great  namesake  of  antiquity.  It  is  distinguished  for  its 
rapid  yet  sure  and  etablc  growth,  for  the  untiring  enter- 


i 


M 


he  i)ublic 

inun  one 

helweeii 

run  over, 
from  Al- 


LBANY, 


forth  from 

Singes  mil 

)ul)lic  hou- 

The  fare 

f  the  Hud- 
toga,  is  a 
A.r8ennl,  of 
ace. 

r,  6  miles 
ounty  scat 
\  wide,  and 
it  rise  and 
ed  than  its 
hed  for  its 
ring  enter- 


"Wl 


NIAOAUA    FALLS    AND    CANADA. 


81 


111 


LanHiiijrlmrjj:!!  —  Walorford, 


priHc  of  its  citizens,  and  for  the  stream  of  prosperity  and 
opulonee  Uiat  pours  in  upon  them.  The  traveller  to  tho 
Sj)ring8  here  lakes  the  railroad  cars.     The  ffire  is  ,f  1,50. 

Lansinghurgli,  on  Ihc  east  side  of  the  Hudson,  in  Reus- 
Rolaer  county,  is  9  miles  fnmi  Albany,  and  30  from  Sara- 
toga.    It  is  seen  from  the  cars,  and  is  a  flourishing  place. 

Waterford,  Saratoga  couniy,  on  the  west  side  of  tho 
Frudsoi),  where  it  is  intersected  with  the  Mohawk  river,  is 
10  miles  from  Albany,  and  2S)  from  Saratoga.  It  is  a 
considerable  place,  and  is  the  head  of  sloop  navigation. 
Tho  traveller  is  ready  to  inquire,  how  do  all  the  cities 
and  villages  so  near  together  from  Albany  to  Waterford, 
continue  not  only  to  maintain  their  ground,  but  to  improve 
and  flourish  in  an  unprecedented  maimer  ?  The  only  an- 
swer is  that  the  country  adjoining  is  rich,  and  the  people 
industrious. 

Mechanicsville,  a  town  in  Saratoga  county,  is  21  miles 
from  Albany,  and  J 8  from  Saratoga.  A  canal  runs  thro' 
the  villnge.  There  is  considerable  water  for  hydraulic 
purposes,  and  a  Cotton  Factory  has  been  fbr  some  years  in 
operation. 

Ballston  Spa,  and  from  thence  the  route  is  the  same  for 
the  next  7  miles,  as  on  the  first  route  from  Schenectady. 
The  whole  fare  on  the  route  via  Troy  to  Saratoga  Sprintre, 
i8from$l,G2to$l,75.  * 

If  it  is  the  intention  of  the  traveller  on  leaving  the 
Springs  to  go  to  Niagara  Falls,  he  is  advised  to  take  the 
route  to  the  Springs,  by  the  way  of  Troy,  and  to  leave 
them  by  the  way  of  Schenectady.  He  will  then  be  on  his 
direct  way  to  the  West.  In  all  cases  the  tourist  is  advi- 
sed to  go  to  the  Springs  in  one  direction,  and  to  return 


11 


i  I 


fcV 


riiii 


32 


TOUR    TO    SARATOGA    SPRINOS, 


Kciiiiirks  lo  Travellers. 


li'  in 


1 '! 


another:  he  will  lose  no  lime  by  so  doing,  unci  will  ace 
more  of  the  coimlry. 

Thnre  nre  m\  innncnsc  nuni])er  of  trnvcUcrs  cofislnnlly 
pa8sin<5  onst  and  west  throii<j;h  Ihn  cilii^R  of  AlbaTiy  niid 
Schcneolady,  who  have  never  been  at  the  S})rin<,'8,  but 
would  like  to  visit  them.  They  have  never  troubled  them- 
selves to  ascertain  how  easy,  and  cheap,  such  u  very  desi- 
rable gratification  is  to  be  obtained. 

To  go  from  Albany  lo  Schenccfndy  via  Troy  nnd  Sam- 
toga  Springs,  costs  the  traveller  for  fare,  only  $2,25  more 
than  to  go  direct  to  Schenectady.  The  same  extra  ex- 
iSense  occurs  from  Schenectady  via  Saratoga,  &c.  to  Al- 
bany. Who  that  can  afford  it  would  for  so  small  a  sum 
forego  the  pleasure  of  a  visit  to  the  Spring??  The  time 
too,  to  tlie  most  hasty  traveller,  can  be  of  little  conse- 
quence; a  single  day,  or  a  night  and  half  a  day,  will 
suffice  for  a  very  hurried  visit. 


ROUTE    FROM    ALBANY   TO    NIAGARA    FALLS, 


n 


> 


i  !l 

i    .  1 


The  railroad  fare  from  Albany  through  to  Utica  is  $3,75. 
The  distance  is  94  miles;  and  to  Syracuse  147. 

After  passing  the  uninteresting  pine  hills  from  Albany, 
the  cars  descend  the  inclined  plane  to  the  city  of  Schenec- 
tady, which  is  16  miles  from  Albany,  and  131  from  Syra- 
cuse; they  stop  in  the  spacious  depot  in  that  place,  and 
the  passengers  change  their  seals  to  the  cars  that  carry 
them  through  to  Utica. 


NIAGARA    FALLS    AND    CANADA. 


S3 


i  I 


will  ace 

Dfislnnlly 
)aTiy  nml 
in<^8,  but 
cd  thcm- 
^cry  dcsi- 

uid  Sarn- 
,2o  nioro 
?xtrn  ex- 
e.  to  Al- 
ii a  Bum 
rhe  time 
le  conse- 
dny,  will 


ALLS. 

is  $3,75. 

Albany, 
Schencc- 
Dm  Syra- 
ilace,  and 
hat  carry 


Atiistertlairi  —  Fonda  -- Rocktoii. 


The  ride  through  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk  is  extremely 
pleasant.  Many  villages  are  passed,  some  of  them  memo- 
rable for  revolutionary  events;  others  are  just  springing  into 
existence,  and  are  dietinguished  by  their  new  and  fresh 
appearance. 

An.slenlam,  Montgomery  county,  is  32  miles  from  Al- 
bany, and  115  from  Syracuse.  The  village  is  of  old  date; 
of  late  years  it  has  taken  a  new  start,  and  it  is  in  a  thri- 
ving condition. 

Fonda,  42  miles  from  Albany,  and  105  from  Syracuse, 
'8  a  new  place  of  two  or  three  years  growth  onl-;  it  is  the 
county  scat  of  Fulton,  a  county  lately  formed  irom  Mont- 
gomery. The  court  house  is  a  very  respectable  building, 
an<'  the  prospects  of  general  improvement  appear  favorable. 
Here  is  an  excellent  eating  house  for  railroad  passengers  — 
they  stop  ten  minutes;  the  same  at  Amsterdam,  St.  Johns- 
vilk  and  Little  Falls,  for  the  purposes  of  refreshment. 

Though  it  is  not  customary  for  travellers  in  this  country 
to  dispense  with  a  single  meal,  yet  the  effects  of  the  ride  on 
the  railroad,  and  the  attractions  of  the  luxuriously  spread 
tables  are  such  at  these  houses,  that  the  passengers  usually 
cat,  as  if  they  had  not  broken  their  fast  before  for  a  week. 

St.  Johnsville,  a  small  village,  63  miles  from  Albany, 
and  84  from  Syracuse,  is  noted  to  railroad  travellers  by 
its  house  of  refreshment. 

Rockton,  or  Little  Falls,  Herkimer  county,  is  73  miles 
from  Albany,  and  74  from  Syracuse.  This  place  has  abun- 
dance of  fine  mill  seats.  The  Mohawk  is  here  broken  by 
many  httle  islands  and  rocks  past  which  it  descends  with 
much  force,  forming  a  variety  of  cascades  and  little  falls. 
An  acqucdact  bridge  crosses  the  river  to  the  Erie  canal. 


#1 


MHi 


h  - 1 


I 


34 


TOrR    TO    SAKATOdA    SPRTNOS, 


rticn  _  Uoiiu^—  Svriu'usp. 


The  very  wild  and  bold  Hccnnry  nroiiiid  llookton,  uinkcB  it 
a  Bpot  whicli  the  IravcUcr  looks  ii|)oii  with  Krcnt  interest. 

Herkimer,  Si)  miles  from  Albnny,  nad  ()7  from  Syrneiisc, 
is  n  post  town  on  the  Gcrmnii  Flats. 

The  city  of  Ulicn,  the  enpilal  of  Oneida  county,  is  i)4 
miles  from  Albnny,  and  53  from  Syracuse.  The  central 
Bitualion  of  this  city  has  long  given  it  a  conmianding  trade. 
An  unostentatious  opuleiux-,  niul  a  happy  competency, 
arc  the  characteristics  of  a  large  portion  of  its  inhnbitnnts. 
At  Utica  the  traveller  purchases  a  ticket  in  the  oflice  of  the 
Depository  at  which  the  cars  stop  for  Syracuse,  at  $2,  the 
distance  of  53  miles. 

The  route  of  the  Syracuse  road  goes  through  Whites- 
town,  distant  100  miles  from  iVlbany,  and  49  from  Syra- 
cuse, situated  on  a  level  near  the  M(»hnwk  river. 

The  v"  Inge  of  Rome,  formerly  Fort  Stnnwix,  is  107 
miles  from  Albnny,  and  40  from  Syracuse.  The  Fort  was 
built  by  the  British,  in  1758.  After  the  revolutionary 
war,  it  was  cnlled  Fort  Schuyler.  Its  ruins  are  slightly 
discernable,  near  the  bnidv  of  the  Mohawk  river. 

The  road  passes  through  some  other  small  villages  that 
are  springing  up  at  different  intersecting  thoroughfares. 

Syracuse,  is  53  miles  from  Utica,  by  the  railroad.  This 
place  has  grown  into  importance  since  the  construction  of 
the  Erie  canal,  and  has  become  the  county  seat  of  On- 
ondaga. The  manufacture  of  salt  is  here  carried  on  ex- 
tensively, both  by  boiling  the  water  and  by  evaporation. 
More  than  one  hundred  acres  are  covered  with  sheds  and 
vats  for  evaporating;  and  the  salt  thus  made  is  consid- 
ered superior. 

Syracuse  is  a  central  point  for  travellers;  in  going  west 


NIAGARA    FALLS    AND    CANADA. 


iimkcs  it 

tcrest. 

iyrneiisc, 

ly,  is  i)4 
3  cent  ml 
11^  trnde. 
ipotcncy, 
inbilnnts. 
ice  of  the 
I  $2,  the 

Whitrs- 
m  Syia- 

c,  is  107 
F«irt  wns 
lulionnry 
3  slightly 

igcs  that 
fnres. 

d.  This 
uction  of 
t  of  On- 
d  on  ex- 
iporntion. 
sheds  and 
s  consid- 


aing  west 


85 


t'annl  Trav<!lliiip. 


from  tjiis  place,  throe  diflercnt  routes  arc  prcbeiitcd.  Ono 
hy  the  Erie  cniuil,  directly  through  lo  Jldchesfcr  and 
Lockporl;  thence  l)y  railroad  to  the  Falls.  One  hy  canal 
and  Htuirc  to  Oswego,  thence  hy  steanihoats  lo  Lewiston, 
and  railroad  to  he  trails.  And  the  other  hy  railroad  to 
Auburn,  and  stages  thence  to  Rochester,  or  Canandaigua 
to  Bullalo,  and  railroad  to  the  Falls;  or  hy  stages  to 
Lockport,  and  railroad  to  the  Falls. 


ROUTE  FROM  SYRACrSE,  BY  CANAL,  TO 
NIAGARA  FALLS. 

After  the  fatigue  of  the  cars,  if  the  passenger  has  come 

direct  fr(,ni  Albany,    147  miles,  it  is  a  great  relief  to  go 

on  board  of  the  Packets.     He  can  sit,  or  sleep,  and  in 

other  respects  find  himself  entirely  at  his  ease.     The  fare 

to  Rochester,    99   miles,  is  $4,  with  board.     The   tabic 

is  provided  about  as  well  as  at  ihe  good  hotels;  the  lodging 

part,  if  there  are  many  passcng.;^^..   cannot  be  favorably 

spoken  of,  yet  it  is  far  better  than  is  allowed  by  the  jar  of 

the  railroad  cars,  or  the  swing  of  post  coaches.     About 

two  days  travelling  on  the  canal  is  always  an  agreeable 

change  from  other  modes  of  conveyance. 

The  villages  passed  on  the  canal  are — 
Miles  from 
Syracuse. 

2    .    .     .     Geddesburgh,  Onondaga  co. 
8    .     .     .     Nine  Mile  Creek,       " 


9 


Miles  from 
Rocliester. 

.     .     97 

.     .     91 


.ninilliifi. 


j> 


■m 

i 

I 

f  ; 

1  i 

1 1 


I 


•3 


36 


TOUR    TO    SARATOr.A    HPRINCff, 


^^m\ 

' 

Canal  Truvclling. 

"\ 

^H 

Miles  from 

Miles  Croiii 

Miles  li 

11  .       1 

I^^H 

HyrucuHC. 

Hocliesier. 

iiOrliC:^ 

^^H' 

14    .    . 

.     Cnnlon,           0 

nondaga  co. 

•      •      '^^ 

27    . 

^H 

20    .    . 

.     Jordan, 

>> 

.    .    79         1 

35    . 

^^H 

i                       26    .    . 

.     Wecdsport, 

Cayuga  co. 

.     .     73         \ 

39    . 

^^^^H 

27    .    . 

.     Con  Ire  Port, 

>> 

.     .     72 

44    . 

^^^^^^^y    i 

,,                    29    .    . 

ir       .   35  .  . 

.     Port  Byron, 

)> 

.    .    70 

45    . 

^H 

.     Montc/iima, 

1* 

.    .    04 

51     . 

^H 

46    .    . 

.     Clyde, 

Wayne  co. 

.     .    53 

03    . 

^H 

55    .    . 

.     Lyons, 

** 

.     .    44 

Fron 

^H 

61    .    . 

.     Lockvillc, 

»• 

.     .     38 

I  i  ccn 

^H 

i            ^    02    .    . 

.     Newark, 

M 

.     .     37 

slop  tei 

^H 

M                   65    .    . 

.     Port  Gibson,  ' 

Ontario  co. 

.     .     34 

at  the  . 

^^^^^^^1 

70    .     . 

.     Palmyra, 

>> 

.    .    29 

Lewist 

^^H(  : 

i!                      ^    81     . 

.     Fairport, 

>» 

.     .     18 

loconio 

^^1 

83    .     . 

.     Fill  lam's  Basin 

Monroe  co.     . 

.    .     10 

The 

^H 

89    . 

,     .     Pittstbrd, 

)) 

.     .     10 

Ridge 

^H 

1 '  ,                   99    . 

.     .     Rochester, 

»» 

•         • 

the  disf 

^H 

!  :                      At  the 

city  of  Rochester,  there  is  again  puse 

nted  to  the 

The 

^H 

1  1'' 

traveller 

difTerent  routes  and  conveyances  to  Ni 

agara  Falls, 

Milos  fr( 
^     Iloclicsl 

^H 

vii.    .ock 

port. 

0    . 

^H 

;                        First, 

tt  continuance  by  the  cnnnl  —  a  boat  lei 

ivcs  shortly 

11  . 

^H 

;  ;j     ,              after  the 

arrival  of  the  eastern 

boat.     The  fare 

is  from  $2 

19    . 

^H 

ij-   ^              to  $2,50 

to  Lockport;  the  disl 

ance  63  miles. 

35    . 

^^B 

•:     '                 The  vi 

llages  passed  are — 

40    . 

H^H 

1 

IMilos  froii 

1 

iMilcs  to 

43    . 

;   '                      llniilicster 

• 

Lockpori. 

^H 

y  i:                 10    . 

.     .     Spencer's  Basij 

1,  Monroe  co.     . 

.     .     53 

53    . 

^H 

;::'■             12  . 

.     .     Ogden, 

>» 

.      .      51         :. 

61    . 

^B 

15    . 

.     .    Adams, 

>i 

.     .     48      1 

And 

^H 

.plr'                    20    . 

.     .     Brockport, 

»> 

.     .     43      1 

The 

^^1 

-  ^ .           9i%  . 

.      .      Hnllnv. 

Ol'lenns  co. 

.    .    2S      ^ 

,   lavia,  G 

^^^^H 

1       '^-    ' 

J   , 

\*f 

■ 

MAfJARA    FALLS    ANL    CANADA. 


37 


MiU',4  from 

Itoi'linsKT. 

.  85 
.  7J) 

.  7:i 

.  72 

.  70 

.  f)4 

.  53 

.  44 

.  38 

.  37 

.  34 

«  f^*y 

.  18 

.  IG 

.  10 

• 

ted  to  the 
i,fara  Falls, 

vcs  shortly 
is  from  ^2 


IMilcs  to 
Lockporl, 


51 

48 
43 
38 


liockporl  and  Nia»(iira  Full-i  llailroarl. 


Murrny, 

Alliiori, 

Portvillo, 

Oiik  Orchard, 

Modinn, 

Miihilcport, 

Lockjjorf, 


Orleans  co. 

» 

n 
it 

Nia<mra  co. 


n 


Miles  to 

Lockp'.irt. 

.  36 

.  28 

.  24 

.  IJ) 

.  18 

.  12 


.Miles  Irorii 
Ilotlicstcr. 

27  .  . 

35  .  . 

39  .  . 

44  .  . 

45  .  . 
51  .  . 
(13  .  . 

-  ■  w  •  # 

From  Lockport  to  the  Falla,  hy  railroad,  24  miles;  furc, 
1/  cents.  At  the  village  ef  Pokin,  lU  miles,  the  cars 
slop  ten  mimitcs,  (o  wood  and  water.  5J  miles  further, 
at  the  Junction,  the  passengers  going  to  Canada  take  the 
Lewiston  cars.  That  village  is  di^^tant  only  2  miles.  Tho 
locomotive  and  train  proceed  on,  7  miles,  to  the  Falls. 

The  second  route  from  Rochester  is  hy  stage,  on  tho 
Ridgc  road.  The  fare  is  ,f<2,50  in  the  summer  ecason; 
the  distance  01  miles. 

The  villages  paased  arc — 
INTilos  from 
Itoclicsicr. 

G  .  . 

11  .  . 

19  .  . 

35  .  . 

40  .  . 

43  .  . 

53  .  . 

Gl  .  . 


Greece, 
Parma, 
Clarksoji, 
Gaines, 
Oak  Orchard, 
Ridge  way, 
Hartland, 
Lockport, 


Monroe  CO. 
It 


»» 


Orleans  co. 


Milop  to 

Lockpwrt. 

55 
50 
42 
^*> 

18 

8 


And  to  tho  Falls,  by  railroad,  24  miles. 
The  third  route  from  Rochester,  is  by  railroad,  to  Ca- 


(I 


m\ 


,   lavia,  Gcncaec  county;  fare,  for  32  m\\v».  ia  *!  r^\ 


n: 


From 


,A 


i] 


dlll|)|''»IWI»l|'WII!'iWllllll  III 


38 


TOUR   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS, 


Coiupurutive  ExpeiiscH. 


Ihencc  by  singe  '.^2  miles,  iiire  $\,^yO,  1o  Loekporl.  Or  to 
Bullhlo,  o9  niik-B,  fare  $2,50.  And  Iroiii  theiicc  by  rail- 
road, or  Btenmbonl,  lo  Niagara  Falls,  22  miles,  fare  87 J 
cent  8. 

These  routes  present  to  the  traveller  the  following  rc- 
Bulls,  as  to  expense: 

The  first  route  from  lloehester,  by  packet,  to  Lockport, 
and  railroad  from  thence  to  the  Falls,  the  cost  is  $3,47  and 
board,  63  miles. 

2d.  Stage  by  the  Ridge  road  and  railroad,  $3,47. 

3d.  Railroad  to  Balavia,  stage  to  Lockport,  «fcc.  $3,97. 

4th.  Railroad  to  Batavia,  stage  to  BuiValo,  and  railroad 
to  the  Falls,  $4,87J. 


ROUTE    FROM    SYRAtiUSE,    BY    LAKE    ONTARIO. 


iiiif: 


Hill 


■ 


Packet  boat,  or  stage,  to  Oswego,  at  the  month  of  Os- 
wego river,  on  Lake  Ontario,  38  miles;  fare,  $1,50.  From 
thence  by  steamboat,  to  Lewiston,  on  (he  Niagara  river, 
150  miles;  fare,  $4.  From  thence  to  the  Falls,  by  rail- 
road, 7  miles;  fare  50  cents. 

As  it  is  desirable  to  see  Lake  Ontario,  and  to  pass  over 
its  deep  green  waters,  either  in  going  up  or  returning,  it 
is  reconmicnded  to  take  this  route,  li'  the  tourist  goes  \o 
Canada,  the  canal,  or  land  route  had  bettor  be  taken  in 
going  to  the  Falls,  and  the  lake  in  pawaing  down,  or  rc- 


15 


NrAOARA    FALLS    AND    CANADA. 


)rl.  Or  to 
cc  by  rail- 
?,  fare  87J 

llowing  rc- 

>  Lockport, 
$3,47  and 

15,47. 

Xsc.  $:.{,97. 

11(1  ruihoad 


39 


Kates  of  Fare  —  Dislfiiict^fl. 


turmiig.  T.)  persons  bound  to  tbc  cily  of  Bufiiilo,  or 
to  (lio  Upper  J.fikcH,  Ibis  is  a  pleasant  and  expeditious 
route,  and  in  an  e(;onoinieaI  point  of  view,  botb  as  to 
time  and  money,  preferable;  and  travellers  on  busincBs 
will  bavo  an  oi)i)ortunity  of  seeinor  ibe  Falls  without  ex- 
Vi'UBOy  and  without  going  out  of  their  way.  The  time  tlic 
proprietors  ndvertise  to  carry  passengers  from  Syracuse  to 
Niagnra  Falls,  is  2-2  hours;  and  to  Bufialo,  in  tbc  short 
space  of  2'.H  hours. 


ROUTE  FROM  SYRACUSE,  RY  AUBURN. 


STAKIO. 

i)u(h  of  Os- 
,50.  From 
igara  river, 
ills,  by  rail- 
to  pass  over 
eturning,  it, 
rist  goes  to 
be  taken  in 
own,  or  rc- 


To  Auburn,  2(5  miles,  by  railroad;  fare,  .f  1,25.  From 
Auburn  to  Canndnigua,  the  conveyance  is  by  stage;  tho 
distance  is  37  miles,  and  the  villages  it  passes  through  are, 


JMilcs  from 
Au!)urii, 

9  . 

11  . 

15  . 

21  . 

37  . 


Miles  Jo 
Canaiulaigua. 

.  .  28 

.  .  2G 

.  .  22 

.  .  16 


4 


.     .     Cayuga  Bridge,  Cayuga  co. 

.     .     Seneca  Falls,       Seneca  co. 

.     .     Waterloo,  " 

.     .     Geneva,  Ontario  co. 

.     .     Canandaigua,  " 

From  Canr.ndaigiia,  this  routes  divides  again  into  two 
one   leading   to   Rocheatcr,   by  railroad,    20  miles;    faro 
$l,12i;  where  the  traveller  will  take  one  of  the  routes 
alrcatly  described,  from  that  city  to  the  Falls. 


r-!!!|!r:'^r't;;i);n:Sttg*~!'s*^K 


40 


il 


il.l 


I  Pi 


I 


TOUR   TO    SARATOGA    BPRINGS, 


Avon  Spritifrs, 


Or  if  he  pleases,  he  may  take  the  road  to  Buffalo  by 
Btage,  distance  88  inilce,  and  pass  through  the  following 
villages: 

Miles  from  Milos  to 

Caiiaiulaigua.  Bulialo. 


>> 


♦» 


80 
75 
70 
65 
C3 


8    .     .     .     East  Bloomfield,  Ontario  co. 

13    .     .     .     West  Bloomfield, 

18    ,     t     .     Lima,  Livingston  co. 

23    ,     ,     ,     East  Avon, 

25    .     ,     .     Avon, 
[Two  miles  north  of  Ihis  village  arc  Ihe  Avon  Springs. 
J  They  are  sulphurous.     The  ncct)mniodations  for  visitors 
nre  such  as  are  required,  and  Ihose  Springs  of  late  years 
have  been  growing  in  favor  with  the  public] 

33    .     .     ,     Caledonia,      Livingston  co. 

39    .     .     .    Le  Roy,  Genesee  co. 

43    .     .     .     Stafford, 

49    .     .     .     Batavia, 

56    .     .     .     East  Pembroke, 

62    .     .     .     Pembroke, 

70    .     .     .     Clarence, 

78    .     .     .     Williamsville. 

88    .     .     .     City  of  Buffalo. 

N.  B.  On  some  routes  the  price  of  fare  is  not  esti- 
mated, as  on  such  it  has  been  found  to  vary  at  different 
periods  it  has  been  travelled  over,  upon  the  distance  en- 
gaged for,  and  for  other  causes,  satisfactory  to  the  propri- 
etors of  the  differejit  lines,  if  not  to  the  traveller. 


i» 


If 


•I" 


Erie  CO. 


*t 


55 
49 
45 
39 
32 
26 
18 
10 


91 


I  J.  t 


Buffalo  by 
5  following 

Milos  to 
Bulialo. 

.      80 

.    75 

.  70 
.  65 
.    C3 

111  Springs. 

for  visitors 

late  years 

.  55 

.  49 

.  45 

.  39 

.  32 

.  26 

.  18 

.  10 

• 

8  not  esti- 
it  different 
ietancc  en- 
tlie  propri- 


NIACfARA    FALLS    AND    CANADA. 


41 


J)istiincc.s  from  UurtUlo. 


THE    CITY    OF    BUFFALO. 

or  Ihis  rising  city  of  Iho  West,  of  the  high  OBpirations 
<»t  ilsntizcne,  of  its  connnanding  position  as  to  comincr- 
cAnl  advantages,  of  tlie  proud  eminence  to  which  it  has 
already  risen,  and  to  the  high  destiny  of  its  future  pros- 
perity and  greatness,  it  is  not  in  this  volume  necessary  to 
fipeak.  It  is  suflicientto  say,  that  it  is  admitted  by  all, 
lliat  there  is  no  location  that  can  become  its  rival,  and  no 
untoward  circumstances,  can  but  for  a  short  period  retard 
•  tfi  onward  course.  The  City  of  the  Lakes,  as  it  should  be 
cnlled,  already  rising  beautifully  over  the  deep  green  wa- 
ters, is  an  object  cheering  to  the  mind  and  delightful  to 
the  eye  of  the  tourist. 

As  the  main  chamiel  of  travel  to  the  great  west  is 
through  this  city,  some  information  as  to  distances  beyond 
Buffalo,  will  here  be  given. 

Steamboats  leave  BuHiiio  every  evening  and  morning; 
and  a  stage  leaves  every  morning  for  the  west.     The  price 
of  cabin  passage  on  the  steamboats  to  Detroit  is  eight  dol- 
lars, and  intermediate  jiorts  in  projjortion. 
The  distances  to  various  points  on  the  lakes  arc— 

Miles. 
From  Buffalo  to  Dunkirk,     ......         45 

"  Portland, 60 

;;    ;;    Ene..  .......    90 

Salem, jjg 

Ashtabula, 130 

I*  *■  Grand  River, 153 

Cleveland, 133 

4* 


■I 


li 


itf^ 


I 


m 


■Wi 


42  TOUR   TO    BARATOOA    SPRINGS, 

(ioiiij;  from  Niag.'irii  Fiills. 
■  ~  Miles. 

From  13ii(r»ilo  to  Huron, 235 

SQiidiisky, 250 

Detroit, 810 

"  "  Mackinaw, 600 

"  "  Green  Bay, 750 

"  "  Chicago, 1000 

For  furflicr  information  to  emigrants  and  travellers  who 
are  bound  west  from  the  city  of  Buffalo,  "  Steele's  Wes- 
tern Guide  Book"  is  recommended  as  a  very  useful  work. 


Pi 


i  ! 

!  i 


1|!    !    ^M 


! 


i  I 
i 


It  '  ^ 

III 


Iff,. 


ROUTES    FROM   NIAGARA    FALLS,    THROUGH 

CANADA. 

Travellers,  when  in  the  western  pari  of  the  State  of 
New- York,  frequently  come  to  the  conclusion  to  make  a 
tour  in  Canada,  and  not  having  provided  themselves  with 
suitable  directions,  at  times  require  information  which 
they  find  it  very  difficult  to  obtain. 

For  the  convenience  of  those  who  wish  to  extend  their 
journey  beyond  the  Falls,  the  following  information  has 
been  brought  together.  The  Falls,  of  late  years,  have 
become  very  justly  the  great  centre  of  attraction,  which 
usually  receive  the  first  visit  of  tourists,  and  thence  they 
branch  off  to  scenes  of  less  magnitude,  as  business  or 
curiosity  leads  them. 

The  city  of  Buffalo  is  the  place  of  general  embarkation 
for  all  the  countries,  lakes,  and  rivers  beyond.  The 
traveller  car*  reach  Buffalo  from  the  Falls,  on  the  Canada 


nnrl 


Miles. 

235 
250 
310 

600 
750 
1000 
i^ellcrs  who 

cle's  Wes- 
eful  work. 


LOU  Gil 


e  State  of 
to  make  a 
3elve8  with 
tion  which 

ctend  their 
matiou  has 
l^ears,  have 
ion,  which 
hence  they 
jusiness  or 

mbarkation 
ond.      The 


av 


nada 


i 


NIAGARA    PALLS   AND    CANADA. 


43 


St.  Catherines  — Haiiiiltoii. 


Bide,  by  stage  or  raih'oad,  to  Chippewa,  two  miles,  and 
1  hence  by  steamboat,  twenty  miles;  or,  by  crossing  the 
ferry  at  the  Falls,  to  the  American  side,  he  will  find  it 
iilcnsnnt  travelling  on  1  he  Buffalo  and  Niagara  Falls  rail- 
road, as  a  considerable  portion  of  the  route  runs  by  the 
eidc  of  the  river.  It  is  usual  for  person,?  visiting  Maiden, 
«aiul\vich,  or  other  portions  of  Canada  west  of  those 
places,  to  take  steamboat  from  Buffalo. 

Jf  the  tourist  confines  his  ramble  within  a  short  com- 
pass, there  are,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Falls,  several  places 
that  may  attract  his  attention,  not  mentioned  in  the  jaunt 

to  Canada,  in  the  after  part  of  this  work. 
AIlGiisburgJi,  8  miles  west  from  the  Falls,  and  596  from 

Quebec,  is  a  smoll  village  on  the  Wellond  canal;  a  good 

rond  leads  to  H,  which  passes  llirough  a  fine  country. 
St.  Davids,  6  miles  nortji  from  ihc  Fulls,  and  588  from 

Quebec,   is  a  pretty,    retired   village;   it  lies   below  the 

mountain  ridge,  2  mileg  west  of  Queenston. 
The  Deep  Cut,  8  miles  west  from  the  Falls,  and  596 

from  Quebec,  has  its  name  from  the  circumstance  of  the 

W(;llnnd  canal,  at  this  place,  being  cut  nearly  100  feet  in 

the  mountain. 

St.  Catherines,  is  10  miles  west  from  the  Falls,  and 
595  from  Quebec.  The  Welland  canal  runs  through  it. 
It  is  a  thriving  village,  and  of  considerable  business. 

Hamilton,  is  west  40  miles,  by  land,  and  50  miles  by 
steamboat  navigation  from  Niagara,  and  630  from  Quebec. 
It  is  near  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario.  It  is  situated  on  a 
beautiful  plain,  skirted  on  one  side  by  the  mountain  and 
on  the  other  by  the  green  meadow  lands  lying  between  it 
and  the  lake.     It  is  one  of  the  first  class  of  Towns  in  the 


!   t 


11 


i     . 


li  I 


44 


TOITR    TO    HAIIATOGA    SPRINGS, 


I' 


If  'i 


'U  l 


";i: 


1,1 


lliii 


Uraiilford  —  Toronto. 


Upper  Provincp,  and  is  n  very  business  like  plnce,  con- 
taining nluMil  oOOO  iiilinbitnnte. 

Brantford,  on  Grand  River,  is  25  miles  fiirlhcr,  and  is 
65  miles  from  tlic  Falls,  and  080  from  Quebec.  Along 
Ihe  borders  of  (Jrand  River  reside  Ibo  renmant  of  the 
Mobawk  Indians,  vvbo,  mider  Rrant,  baving  taken  sides 
witb  Ibo  Brilisb  govorinnent,  in  tbc  revolutionary  war, 
bad  a  large  tract  of  land  allotted  to  tbem  on  tbc  borders 
of  (bin  river. 

Tberc  is  a  line  of  stages  wbicb  run  daily  from  liowis- 
lon  and  Queenslon,  tbrougb  Canada  to  Detroit,  jjassing 
;  tbrougb    SI.  Davids,  St.   Catbcrines,   Jianjilton,  Ancas- 
ter,  Brantford  and  Jjondon. 

Toronto,  is  44  miles  from  Ibo  Falls,  on  the  nortbern 
side  of  tbc  lake,  and  100  miles  by  land,  and  550  from 
Quebec.  It  contains  about  12,000  inbabitants.  It  is 
built  by  tbc  side  of  tbe  bay  of  tbe  same  name.  Tbe  for- 
tifications are  at  a  sbort  distance  from  tbe  city,  on  a  point  of 
land  wbicb  conunands  (be  entrance  into  tbe  harbor.  Tberc 
are  several  well  built  streets  in  Toronto,  and  many  gov- 
ennnent  and  other  buildings  of  ample  dimensions  and  in 
good  style.  Tbe  College  at  this  place  is  well  endowed, 
and  is  a  well  conducted  and  an  excellent  institution.  Tbc 
precincts  around  tbe  city  are  handsomely  improved.  Or- 
chards, gardens,  and  tbc  dwellings  of  wealthy  peojile  arc 
seen  in  every  direction.  The  lands  about  Toronto  arc 
very  fertile,  and  for  many  miles  in  all  directions,  the 
country  is  well  populated  by  able  farmers. 

Travellers  from  tbe  American  or  British  side,  can  cm- 
bark  on  board  of  steamboats  at  Lcwiston  or  Queenslon,  7 
miles  from  the  Falls,  and  585  from  Quebec,  or  at  any 


plnce,  con- 

hcr,  nnd  is 
oc.  Along 
mill  of  the 
Inkoii  sides 
(uiaiy  wnr, 
the  borders 

om  liowis- 
»i1,  ]m8sijig 
an,  Ancas- 

e  northern 
I  550  from 
Ills.  It  is 
The  for- 
n  n  poiiit  of 
)or.  There 
nmny  gov- 
ons  and  in 
1  endowed, 
tion.  The 
3ved.  Or- 
peojile  are 
oronto  are 
ctions,  the 

3,  can  cm- 
leension,  7 
or  at  any 


NIAGARA    FALLS    AND    CANADA. 


45 


m 


Oswego—  Kiiifr.sion. 


of  the  i)ort8  on  the  river  below,  for  Hnmilton,  Toronto, 
Kingston,  or  from  the  American  ports  on  the  lake,  or  of 
the  St.  Lawrence.  If  the  tourist  desires  to  go  to  the 
Lower  Province,  he  will  take  a  steamboat  from  the  Nia- 
gara river,  or,  if  he  prefers  an  overland  route,  he  can  take 
the  railroad  cars,  and  pass  through  the  villages  of  Pekin 
and  Lockport,  24  miles  from  the  Falls,  and  5C9  from 
Quebec;  thence  by  packet  or  stage,  and  railroad,  to  the 
cily  of  Rochester,  the  whole  distance  85  miles,  and  507 
from  Quebec. 

Those  travellers  who  did  not  come  to  the  Falls  by  this 
route,  will  find  it  a  very  pleasant  one  on  their  return. 
The  ride  on  the  railroad,  along  the  brow  of  the  mountain 
is  delightful.     The  great  combined  locks  at  Lockport,  and 
the   thousands  of  laborers  now  engaged  in  blasting  the 
rocks  and  excavating  the  earth  fbr  the  enlarged  canal,  are 
well  worth  seeing.     The  number,  too,  of  beautiful  and 
flounshmg  villages  along  this  route -the  rich  and  pros- 
perous  country- the  city  of  Rochester -the  great  acque- 
duct-the  falls  of  the  Genesee  river -are  all  objects  of 
great  interest.     At  Rochester  the  tourist  is  again  on  the 
great  thoroughfare  of  travel;  and  stages,  railroad  cars  and 
packet  boats,  are  ready  for  his  accommodation. 

To  Oswego,  from  Lcwiston,  by  the  lake,  is  150  miles, 
and  IS  L57  from  the  Falls,  and  452  from  Quebec 

To  Sacket's  Harbor,  from  Oswego,  40  miles;  and  is  197 
from  the  Falls,  and  412  from  Quebec. 

To  Cape  Vincent,  from  Sacket's  Harbor,  20  miles 

Kmgston,  Upper  Canada,  now  the  capital  of  both  Pro- 
vmces,  lies  opposite  Cape  Vincent,  distant  11  miles,  and 
.s  200  mdes  from  Niagara  Falls,  and  392  from  Quebec. 


I 


Irt 


:'l; 


I 


I 


i  1 

li 

I   1 

i 

i 

1 

! 

4 


46 


TOUR    TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS, 


Uidcaii  Cuiial  —  Sf.  liiiwrrMKn  Uivrr. 


It  conlains  nhont  GOOO  inlinbilnnls.  This  place  was  for- 
merly Fort  FronliiiQc;  it  is  built  on  tho  northern  shore  of 
the  St.  Lawrence,  at  its  junclion  with  Lake  Ontario. 
The  river  is  here  10  miles  wide.  The  Thousand  Islands 
commence  immediately  below  Kint^slon,  and  are  scattered 
in  the  river  for  a  distance  of  50  miles.  The  fortifications 
at  Kingston  are  of  considerable  strength,  and  in  reference 
to  military  and  naval  operations,  it  is  considered  an  im- 
portant point. 

The  Rideau  canal  commences  in  the  bay;  and  is  five 
miles  from  Kingston.  It  was  built  at  the  expense  of  the 
British  government,  and  principally  for  military  purpo- 
ses, in  aftbrding  an  internal  communication  between  the 
Upper  and  Lower  Provinces.  The  whole  distance  from 
Kingston,  by  the  Rideau  canal,  to  Montreal,  is  280  miles. 
There  is  a  variety  of  r  3rc8ting  objects  along  the  canal  — 
the  Rideau  and  Ottawa  rivers,  the  cataract  of  the  Chau- 
dire,  the  Rideau  falls,  extensive  lakes,  and  some  pleasant 
villages. 

By  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  conveyance  is  by  steamboat 
to  Dickerson's  Landing,  110  miles,  passing 


Miles  from 
Niagara  Falls. 

250    .    Ikockvillc,  Upper  Canada, 

Morristown,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y. 
270    .    Prcscott,  Upper  Canada,         .       .       .       I       . 

Ojjdensljiirgh,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y. 
310    .    From  Dickerson's  Landing,  by  stage,  12  miles,  to 
322    .  Cornwall,  Lower  Canada,       .... 

363    .    Thence  by  steamboat  41  m.  to  Coteau  du  liac,  li.  C 
379    .    Thence  by  stage  16  miles,  to  Cascade,  L.  C. 
103    .    Thence  by  steanilioat  24  miles,  to  lia  Chicn,  L.  C. 
112    =.    Thence  bv  stage  9  miles,  to  Montreal,    ,       . 


Miles  to 
Ciuebec. 

JM2 

320 

282 
270 
.  229 
213 
IF!) 
180 


NfAr.ARA    PALLS    AND    CANADA. 


ice  was  for- 
Drii  shore  of 
vG  Ontario, 
and  Islands 
re  scattered 
brtifications 
in  reference 
^rcd  an  im- 

and  is  five 
lensc  of  the 
tary  purpo- 
)etween  the 
stance  from 
8  280  miles, 
the  canal  — 
'  the  Chau- 
ne  pleasant 

J  steamboat 


Miles  to 
(iuebec. 

320 


DS,  to 


2S2 

270 
•,  L.  C.    220 

213 
L.  C.        IF!) 

180 


I 


47 


;l 


Moiiireal  — Quebec. 


The  distance  from  Kingston,  by  the  St.  Lawrence,  to 
Montreal,  is  2)2  miles.  The  fine  scenery  along  the  river, 
of  lakes  and  lapide,  of  islands  and  rocky  shores,  of  wild 
and  picturesque  views,  of  rising  towns  and  elegant  seats, 
and  the  many  scenes  made  memorable  by  historical 
events,  always  chann  and  annise  the  traveller. 

Besides  the  many  objects  which  the  city  of  Montreal 
afTords  to  attract  the  attention  of  <he  tourist,  the  village 
of  Varennes,  on  account  of  its  medical  spring  and  fine 
prospect,  has  become  a  ])Iace  of  nuich  resort.  The  village 
is  15  miles  from  the  city,  427  miles  from  Niagara  Falls, 
and  165  from  Quebec;  and  the  spring  is  about  a  mile  from 
the  village.  A  steamboat  runs  from  Montreal  to  this 
J)lace  twice  a  day,  and  the  boats  that  ply  lo  and  from 
Quebec  usually  slop. 

Pursuing  the  route  down  the  river,  William  Henry  is 
40  miles  from  Montreal,  4G7  miles  from  Niagara  Falls 
and  125  from   Quebec.     It  is  on  the  bank  of  the  river 
Sorel,  where  it  unites  with  the  St.  Lawrence. 

The  next  place  of  importance  is  the  Three  Rivers  at 
the  mouth  of  the  St.  Maurice,  and  is  497  miles  from  Nia 
gara  Falls,  and  95  from  Quebec.  Some  miles  up  the  St 
Maurice,  are  the  flxlls  of  the  Shawinncgame,  of  100  {^^\.  ' 
The  Richelieu  rapids  commence  7  miles  below  the 
Three  Rivers,  and  is  504  miles  from  Niagara  Falls,  a,id 
b8  from  Quebec.  The  navigation  is  considered  danger- 
ous  m  the  night,  and  by  steamboats  the  rapids  are  always 
passed  in  the  day  time. 

The  distance  to  Quebec  from  Montreal,  by  steamboat, 
IB  180  mdes,  and  from  Niagara  Falls  592  miles.  The 
traveller  having  arrived  in  this  city,  so  ceicbiated  for  the 


II 


11 


48 


TOUR   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS, 


in 


iil. 


I'!' 


Itptiirniin,'  Uoiitc  from  (.iucli"*'. 


many  great  cveulsof  vvhioli  it  lias  been  the  theatre,  and 
for  its  strong  Ibrtiticatione,  will,  at  liia  leisure,  accompa- 
nied by  tomo  well  informed  citizen,  >r  hired  guide,  visit 
all  the  locations  and  objects  of  attraction  within  and 
around  the  city. 

The  Falls  of  Montmorcnei  are  eight  miles  northeast  of 
Quebec,  on  the  river  of  the  same  name,  and  near  the 
St.  Lawrence;  being  (iOO  miles  from  Niagara  Falls.  The 
height  of  the  Fall  is  240  feet,  or  72  feet  higher  than  the 
Falls  of  Niagara,  but  the  immense  volume  of  water  of 
the  great  cataract  is  wanting.  The  falling  sheet  is  about 
100  feet  wide,  or  about  the  same  width  as  that  of  the 
centre  fall  of  Niagara,  which  passes  over  Ingrahain's 
Cave.  The  great  height,  however,  of  these  Falls,  and 
the  singular  beauty  which  pervades  the  whole  wild  and 
romantic  scene,  is  the  admiration  of  all  who  have  had  an 
opportunity  of  beholding  them. 

On  the  route  between  the  Falls  of  Montmorenci  and 
the  city,  is  the  Indian  village  Lorette.  Some  beautiful 
views  of  the  surrounding  and  distant  scenery  is  afforded 
from  this  village. 

There  are  several  other  places  in  the  vicinity  of  Quebec 
of  considerable  interest,  which  are  pohited  out  to  stran- 
gers, and  are  frequently  visited. 

In  returning,  the  usual  route  is  back  to  Montreal  — 
from  thence  by  steamboat  to 

Miles  from  Miles  to 

3Iontrcul.  Albany. 

7  .  La  Prairie,  Lower  Canada,  ...  .  .  243 
24  .  Thence  by  railroad  to  St.  Johns,  L.  C.  17  m.  226 
33    .    By  steamboat  to  Isle  Aux  Noix,  L.  C.  14  m.  212 


4 


1 


The  c 
public  sf 
road  to  ; 
'>!)cratior 


bcalrc,  and 
,  accjuipa- 
giiidc,  visit 
wit  bin   and 

uorlbcast  of 
d  near  Ibe 
brails.  Tbo 
cr  tbau  Ibc 
ol"  water  of 
icet  is  about 
tbat  of  Ibc 
Ingrabam's 
Falls,  and 
le  wild  and 
lave  had  an 

Qorcnci  and 
ne  beautiful  | 
J  is  afforded 

y  of  Quebec 
ut  to  etranr 

Montreal  — 


Miles  to 
Albany. 

.     243 


\  17  m. 
;.  14  m.  212 


NIAGARA    FALLS    AND    CANADA. 


49 


Itouto  from  Alhany  lo  |]oBtoii. 


Milea  from 
Montreal. 

48 

60 

75 

101 

139    , 

154    . 

178    . 

200    . 

203    . 

223    . 


To  Rouse's  Point,  L.  C.  10  miles, 
'*  Cbazy,  Clinton  county,  N.  Y.  12  miles! 


Miles  to 
Allumy, 

202 


i> 


15 
2C 
38 
15 
24 
22 
3 
20 


i> 


M 


190 

175 

140 

111 

96 

72 

50 

47 


Plattsburgh,  " 

Bi-rlington,  Vermont, 

Crown  Point,  N.  Y. 

Ticonderoga,  N.  Y. 

Whiteball,  N.  Y. 

Sandy  Hill,  N.  Y. 

Glen's  Falls,  N.  Y. 

Saratoga, 
And  from  thence  to  Albany,  38  miles 
In  going  to  the   Springs  from  the  north,  the  tourist 
will  only  depart  about  15  miles  out  of  the  direct  route  to 
Albany. 

The  whole  tour  from  New-York  (o  Saratoga  Snr;„.e 
N,agara  Falls,  Q„oboe,  and  back  ,o  the  .Ty  of  New! 
York  w,ll  comprise  a  distance  of  abo.U  1,W0  miles,  and 
may  be  accompl.shed  m  the  summer  season,  by  hose 
whose  ambition  is  rapidity  of  moven.ent,  in  less  than  1(. 
aays,  and  at  an  expense  of  from  $50  to  $70. 


ROUTE    PIIOM    ALBANY    TO    BOSTON,   (mass.) 

The  citizens  of  Boston  have  ovmced  a  i,reat  de^rro  ot 
M.c.^ntind.Wngiorwardtbec^ 

Z:;^Zj^:^''1'T'''^^  ^^  completed,  and  ,n 
! --i-_r- tM)ni  Bo.tn„    to  Sprin,ri,eld:  uud  it  Ib  expected 


l\ 


,-■  \ 


■ 


I 


Mtfiil 


iMlMM 


50 


ROUTE    FROM    ALBANY    TO    BOSTON. 


Time  of  IcuvinR  Alhiiny  —  Fare. 


that  from  Springfield  to  Albany,  a  distance  ol"  104  miles, 
the  road  will  be  completed  in  lees  than  two  years.  Be- 
fore that  time,  the  34  n.iles  of  railroad  from  Batavia  to 
Buffalo,  or  the  6()  mil^q  of  railroad  from  Rochester  to 
Lockport  will  also  be  tinished.  There  will  then  bo  a 
direct  railroad  conmiunication  from  Boston  to  Niagara 
Falls,  and  Buffalo,  a  distance  of  about  520  miles. 

The  communication  now  between  Albany  and  Boston 
is  by  stages  and  railroad  cars,  and  the  fare  through  is  but 

$6. 

From  Albany,  there  are  two  daily  lines  of  stages.— 
The  Telegrai)h  mail  leaves  at  5  o'clock,  P.  M.  and  ar- 
rives at  Springfield  the  next  day  in  time  for  the  afternoon 
cars,  and  goes  through  to  Boston,  204  miles,  in  24  hours. 

The  Accommodation  coach  leaves  every  morning  at  6 
o'clock,  and  arrives  at  Springfield  the  same  evening  to 
lodge.  The  passengers  are  the  next  day  conveyed  by 
railroad  to  Boston  by  12  o'clock. 


Hi.!    .! 


N. 


104  milcfl, 
rears.  Be- 
Batavia  to 
ochester  to 

then  bo  a 
to  Niagara. 
lee. 

and  Boston 
ough  is  but 


'■  I 


if  stageB. — 
M.  and  ar- 
le  afternoon 
n  34  hours, 
orning  at  6 
evening  to 
lonveyed  by 


ti 


i    f  '  -■ 


Hi 


:i.| 


I!  IC 


^ 
@ 

fe 

4 


J 


1 


n    U 


:j 


D^ 


:? 


: 


Z2ZL 


■^i 


r 


I 


J 


H 


1 


I 


;i! 


*■'' 

1  '  :  • 

- 

• 

i 

» 


n     ® 

1 

1 

s 

^ 

J        'if-y — tfvi"^ 

lJ    "R    ^ 

h 
U 
J 

a 

H           ! 

J 

^                             J 

«  1 

XVAt'P 

ZfausT 

•         ■                    i      ■       ■ 

t                                                           ^ 

a 

6 

I 

u 
s 

i 

i 
h 

a^ 

iii« 

p 

1 

== 

1 

' 

I   l:' 


Jll' 
!  ill' 


l-!-'M 


I 


Vl 


1!'^ 


IH 


JA1 


Descrip 


DIRJ 


SARAl 


PART  II. 


JAUNT    TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


PUBLIC    HOUSES, 


Description  of  Springs,  Virtue  in  tlie  cure  of  Diseases 


11 


DIRECTIONS  AS  TO  DRINKING  AND  USING  THE  WATERS. 


ANALYSIS. 


BATHING— USE  OF  THE  BATH. 
SARATOGA     VILLAGE  —  AMUSEMENTS,    &c. 


I   ,■ 


r.i 


Thc( 

porters 

The  tra 

room  th( 

having  1 

I     better  tc 

hi  the  c 

irrcFipoiif 

bills  thr 

never  be 

Lodgi; 

the  pnrlj 

like,  if  i 

5 


JAUNT  TO  SARATOGA. 


ARRIVAL    AT    THE    SPRINGS. 


"  Madam,  this  way,  here  is  our  sitting  room. 
The  day  is  pleasant,  Sir  —  Pray  be  seated  — 
Happy  to  serve  you  —  Any  orders,  Sir  ? 
The  baggage?    It  shall  be  seen  too  —  A  room  ? 
With  pleasure  ;  I'll  show  you  one  or  more." 

The  cars  with  the  passengers  drive  into  the  depot,  the 
porters  from  the  different  public  houses  surround  them. 
The  travellers  will  observe  painted  on  the  sides  of  the 
room  the  names  of  1he  public  houses,  the  porter  to  each 
having  his  appropriate  stand.  In  selecting  a  house,  it  is 
better  to  depend  upon  the  advertisement  of  the  proprietor 
in  the  columns  of  some  respectable  newspaper,  than  the 
irresponsible  recommendation  of  runners,  or  of  anonymous 
bills  thrust  into  cars  and  stages.  Those  things  should 
never  be  depended  on. 

Lodgings   having  been  procured   to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  party;  after  ablutions,  dressing,  rcfreshmcnis  and  the 
like,  if  in  health  they  hasten  to  the  fountains.     The  first 
5* 


i  ■     ,    \ 


II 


ll 


II! 

I 


54 


JAUNT   TO    SABATOGA   SPIIINGS. 


Visit  to  Congrosa  Spring. 


"n    *     r^n.rrPHR  Soring;  it  lias  lon«,'  Blood 

aircction  -l^-fl'l^-^ZJXi  tto  southern  „art  of 
pre-eminent.    It  «  nea     t  >^      ,  ^^  ^^_^  ^^^^.^^_ 

wbieU  hnkta  three  hnlf  phil  tmnblerf,  l>o  d  pB  m   he  to 
:l,anar.»c»tho.parU.:,.s«a,.U.ecU^^^^^^ 

rise  te  „3.,any  UUen.  This  is  eno„,b  nnU  the 
^siu'  has  determined  upon  a  mediea  conrse  of  the  wa 
ters-  or  is  informed  of  their  virtuca  and  etlecis. 

Hav  n,  tasted  of  these  delightful  waters  the  v.  .tors 
oft" "eturn  to  the  Main  street,  in  order  to  visit  UJio 
Springs  in  a  regtUar  conrse:  they  comn.enee  at  the  most 

eouthern.  T,  t,  at  the  lower  end  of  Broad- 

Wasuincton  Speiso.  -  It  IS  at  me 
wav  on  Main  street,  on  the  west  s,de.     This  Sp  ng  pu 
ZsTfme  tninoral  water;  its  predominant  .nahties  are 
cholvbeate,  saline,  and  earbonie  ae.d  gas.  „._,, 

n.ese  waters  are  diuretic  and  catharUe.  They  arc 
ZZu  to  persons  who  have  been  much  reduced  by 
dlL  who  ar  feeble  and  languid,  without  any  local  or 
t^  ,«amma,ion,  and  who  arc  ^^^^'^^f^'t^^i 
In.     Slowness  of  f "-"»-' ^f"f;:^'^,X 

rje::;g:L"rC\::u— tionofthe 

— :;rri:hfr:r:.-.spring^om.ur 

to  eight  tumblers  may  be  used  each  day.     When  the 
operate  favorably,  an  improved  appetite  will  iollow.   When 


1 


JAUNT   TO   SARATOGA   SPRINGS. 


55 


g  stood 

part  of 
pring  — 
c  frame 
he  foun- 
itB  them 
is  nskcd, 

One  or 
until  the 
'  the  wa- 

,e  visitors 

ait  all  the 

the  most 

of  Broad- 
Ipring  pro- 
mlities  arc 

They  arc 
reduced  by 
iny  local  or 
brile  irrita- 
e  remedied 
tending  to 
They  will 
ation  of  the 


^ 


>» 


from  four 
When  they 
tlow.   When 


roluinbiiin  and  Coriffross  S[)rinj;s. 


they  oppress  the  stomach,  cause  nausea,  hot  flushings  with 
diarrhoea,  and  at  times  costivcness,  they  should  be  imme- 
diately discontinued. 

The  recreative  Garden  surrounds  the  Washington 
Spring;  and  the  Washington  Baths  arc  supplied  with 
the  fresh  and  mineral  water. 

The  CoLUMiuAN  Spring.  —  A  few  rode  to  the  north- 
east of  the  Washington  is  tlio  Columbian  Spring.  The 
waters  ore  similar  to  the  Washington.  As  there  are  so 
many  Springs  near  at  hand  of  a  more  pojjular  character, 
the  waters  of  this  are  seldom  used. 

This  Spring  is  in  a  public  park,  or  pleasure  ground;  to 
the  cast  of  the  Spring  passes  the  road  that  leads  to  the 
rising  ground  that  is  surmounted  with  a  grove  of  pine, 
amid  which  is  a  circular  railroad. 

Congress  Spring.  —  This  Sirring  already  slightly  men- 
tioned as  the  one  first  visited  on  the  arrival  of  the  party, 
is  a  short  distance  from  the  Columbian.  It  is  convenient 
to  some  of  the  principal  hotels,  and  has  as  yet  been  unri- 
valled for  the  excellence  of  its  water.  It  is  eagerly  sought 
for  abroad,  and  has  been  transported  to  every  part  of  the 
United  States,  and  to  many  foreign  places.  In  some 
parts  even  in  the  United  States  it  is  sold  for  a  higher  price 
than  some  qualities  of  wine.  But  none  can  fully  appre- 
ciate its  superiority,  but  those  who  quail"  it  at  the  foun- 
tain, before  any  portion  of  the  gas  has  escaped. 

The  crowd  of  invalids  and  fashionables,  that  are  fre- 
quently in  a  summer's  morning,  found  around  this  Spring, 
is  truly  surprising;  and  the  quantity  of  water  drank  is 
not  only  incredible,  but  in  some  individual  cases  quite 
alarming.     It  is  related  that  ten  quarts  have  been  known 


'  !l 


niM 


III'  . 


litll 


i^'' 


ll:'.   J 


56 


JAUNT    TO    SAF  VTOOA    SPRTNOR. 


llainillon  nnd  rmnam  Hprinps. 


to  have  been  drank  by  a  single  individual  before  break, 
fast.  The  mineral  combinations  of  this  Spring  ^ary  in 
some  rcHpccts  from  the  Washington.  It  holds  in  solu- 
tion more  magncHia  and  iron;  and  of  ca.Honic  acid  gas, 
the  difti  cnco  is  considerable  in  favor  of  Congress  Spring. 
The  waurs  of  thi^  Spring,  as  a  medicine,  may  be  used  in 
all  cases,  w  ith  propriety,  in  which  the  Washington  Spring 
waters  are  reconnnended;  and  in  i-evcral  others. 

Hamilton  Spuing.  —  Passing  to  the  north  on  Putnam 
street,  Hamilton  Bath  House  nnd  Spring  are  next  observ 
ed.  This  water  is  esteemed  as  posseesii.  superior  diur- 
etic qualities.  It  is  still  a  little  more  charged  wi  gas, 
has  more  saline  matter  and  soda,  but  less  ini.^neBui  and 
lime,  but   the  difTerence  in  thcF-    particulars  are  not  con- 

eiderable. 

The  Baths  at  this  Spring  are  well  fitted  up,  and  nre 
supplied  with  both  pure  and  mincrni  water. 

Putnam's  Congress  Spring.  —  Pursuing  the  route 
along  Putnam  street,  tlif?  Spring  is  next  i  older.  The 
waters  are  of  a  quality  equal  to  any  already  mentioned; 
and  a  Bath  Hour'  wi1h  every  suitable  convenience,  hav- 
ing also  pure  and  mineral  water,  is  near  at  hand. 

The  Pavilion  Springs.  —  SHU  further,  on  liie  same 
street,  lying  in  the  centre  of  the  ravine,  is  the  Pavilion 
Springs.  In  ISriO,  some  slight  appcamnces  of  a  Spring 
was  noticed,  and  the  enterprising  own  of  the  property, 
D.  M'Laren,  Esq.  commenced  an  excavatii  a.  He  iol- 
lowed  the  Springs  down  for  about  35  feet,  when  the  foun- 
tains gushed  up  and  flowed  over  the  surface.  Nothing 
can  be  more  beautiful  than  these  fountains.  They  arc  but 
a  few  feet  apart;  they  boil  up  with  crystillinc  purity;  they 


\ 


!». 


eforc  break, 
ing  ^/ary  in 
Ids  in  Bohi- 
ic  acid  gas, 
resfl  Spring. 
y  be  used  in 
i^ion  Spring 

■8. 

on  Putnam 
next  observ  ■ 
ipcrior  diur- 
?d  wit;  gas, 
mgnesin  and 
arc  not  con- 
up,  and  are 

I  thu  route 
Older.  Ttie 
mentioned; 
3nience,  hav- 
md. 

3n  llie  same 
the  Pavilion 
of  a  Spring 
tbe  property, 
Ion.  He  ii)l- 
bcn  the  foun- 
ce.  Nothing 
They  an  but 
!  purity;  they 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOr.A    SPRINGS. 


57 


I 


Analysis  ofjlio  Wntcrs. 


are  not  tnrl)cd  or  yonf-ty,  ]m\  air  and  water  Bcem  conunin- 

gledwith  a  bripbtjicss  an,    briUinricy  altogether  indoscri- 
hahle. 

The  public  hnve  boon  furnished  with  the  following 
niiaiypp  of  one  of  these  foimtains.  The  other  is  called 
the  Mi-.gneftin  Fountain. 

♦'Pavilion  Fountain— One  t,'alIon  of  this  water  is 
found  to  contain  — 


Chloride  r  Sodium,  . 
Carbonate  of  Magnesia, 
C?  bonat(^  Lime,  .  . 
Cavbonnto  Soda, .  .  , 
Oxide  Iron,  .  .  .  » 
Iodide  ((f  Sodium,  .  . 
Bromide  of  Polaswum, 
Sib"ca,  .  ,  .  .  . 
Alumina,        .     .     .     . 

Totcl  grains. 

'ari   ni '  acid  gas,   .     . 
Afmospheric  air,       .     . 


•     »     •     •     * 


firains. 
226.58 
62.50 
.  60.24 
4.70 
4,10 
2.75 
2.75 
.62 
.25 

.     861.74 

Cubic  inchefl. 
.     480.01 
8.00 


Total  cubic  inches,    ....     488.01 

JAMES  THOMAS." 

►Saratoga  Springs,  A     .  12,  18  ''  " 

As  to  the  peculiar  me<l,cal  qnalities  of  these  fountains, 
if  materially  dilTercnt  from  the  others,  time  and  experi- 
ence 18  required  to  test  and  dMr  n-nine  their  value 


!     1 


tl 


tn 


|:. 


J    !^^ 


i  1  . 
1   .'  ' 


(I 


■  it  i 


it    I 


U 


I' 


irHi 


III 

1 

i 

1  ^ 

1 

( 

i 
1    :" 

i 

m 


.1 


k  'i 
''.iiiii' 


58 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS- 


Flat  Rock  and  Monroe  SpringB. ^ 


The  Flat  Rock  Sprino.  -  Directly  north  from  iho 
New  Saline,  is  the  Flat  Rock  Spring  and  Bathing  JI  v^o. 
The  reputation  of  Hub  Spring  has  always  been  good,  an 
its  waters  are  used  freely  by  visitors.     The  nnneralH  tb-  .- 
hold  in  solution,  vary  in  some  slight  lospects  from  luuso 
already  mentioned.     The  proportion  of  saline  matter  and 
o   earbonic  acid  gas,  is  not  bo  great  as  others  that  have 
been  spoken  of;  and  in  some  cases  of  disease  th.s  water 
is  more  useful  than  in  those  that  require  more  powerful 

remedies.  ,     ^   ^i 

,  The  Monroe  Springs. -A  few  rods  further,  on  a 
small  plat  of  ground  of  less  than  an  acre,  are  three  Springs. 
These  perhaps  constitute  as  singular  an  assemblage  of 
Springs  as  was  ever  found  together  within  so  small  a 
compass.  One  is  chalybeate,  being  very  strongly  impreg- 
nated with  iron.  ^  .  .  .  j  « i 
One  is  sulphurous;  the  only  sulphur  Spring  introduced 

to  the  notice  of  visitors  at  the  village  of  Saratoga. 

The  other  is  a  fine  sparkling  acidulous  water,  pungent, 
and  of  agreeable  flavor.  Ii  has  received  favor  as  an  anti- 
dyspeptic  drink;  it  sits  easier  on  the  stomach,  and  taken 
in  moderate  quantities,  is  not  attended  with  any  disagree- 
able  sensation  of  heaviness  and  cold. 

The  American  Bath  House  at  these  Spr'ngs,  affords  all 
the  necessary  conveniences  to  visitors. 


Still  a 
Spring, 
and  was  v 
its  curati'' 
mntion,  ai 
Around  it 
are  secure 

This  is( 
nine  feet 
towards  tl 
the  8urfac( 
seen  from 
inches  In 
eubterrnnc 
ations  of  n 
ndm<ration 
is  not  used 
in  almost  c 
popular. 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    RPIlINOS. 


59 


llipli  Hock  .•^priiiir. 


*  I 


IIICH    ROCK    Sl'RING 

"  Thou  stream, 
Wliose  source  ig  Inni-.cefjsibly  profouncil, 
Whither  do  ihy  mysterious  waters  lend  ? 
Thou  imag'dt  my  life." 

Still  n  short  spnce  farther  north  is  the  High  Rock 
Si)ring.  This  is  the  most  ancient  of  all  the  Springs, 
and  was  well  known  to  the  aborigines  of  the  country  for 
its  curative  powers.  It  was  held  by  them  in  great  esti- 
mation, and  was  by  them  pointed  out  to  the  white  man. 
Around  it  nature  has  formed  a  curb  of  rock;  all  the  others 
are  secured  by  artificial  means. 

This  isolated  rock  i6  about  three  feet  high,  and  about 
nine  feet  in  diameter  at  its  base,  diminishing  in  width 
towards  the  top;  the  waters  within  rise  about  a  foot  above 
the  surface  of  the  earth,  boiling  and  gurgling.  They  arc 
seen  from  above  through  a  circular  opening  of  about  eight 
inches  In  diameter,  but  disappearing  through  some  unseen 
subterranean  passage.  This  is  one  u."  those  singular  form  • 
ations  of  nature  which  excites  the  wonder  and  claims  the 
admiration  of  all  who  visit  it.  The  water  of  this  Spring 
is  not  used  as  much  as  formerly,  tnough  it  will  compare 
in  almost  every  respect  with  many  that  have  become  more 
popular. 


'I  i 


f   t 


m. 


9'  ■  !! 


m  '-M 


60 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


It  is  supposed  that  iLc  fountain  once  ilowcd  over  the  op 
of  the  rock.  One  tradition  says,  that  a  tree  fell  over  the 
Spring  and  split  the  rock  at  the  bottom;  but  an  Indian 
tradition  accounts  for  it  in  another  way. 

INDIAN  LEGEND  OF  HIGH  RUCK  SPRING. 

I.- 

Far  in  the  forest's  deep  recess, 

Dark,  luudcn,  arul  alone. 
Mid  marshy  ien^  and  luuj|lca  vvood^, 

There  rose  a  rocky  cone. 
It  was  a  strange,  mysterious  spot, 

And  near  no  mortal  dwell' d  -, 
But  there  retired  the  sorccre?- priest, 

His  secret  orgies  held. 

H. 

There  the  fierce  tcnnnlB  of  the  wood 

On  one  another  prey'd, 
And  though  the  thuid  deer  wore  slaui, 

Yet  fondly  round  they  stray'd  -, 
Their  natures  craved  the  saline  draught : 

For  that  they  ca^er  sought, 
And  oft  one  single,  hasty  sip, 

Wad  with  their  life  blood  bouglit. 

III. 

Within  that  rocky  cone  a  spring 

Of  healing  waters  rose, 
And  o'er  the  top  it  gUllering  spread^j, 

And  down  the  sides  it  flows  -, 
It  looked  as  if  with  hrllUant  gems, 

Thai  curtain'd  rock  wiis  bound. 
As  sparkUng  hung  tlie  airy  slrcaui. 

Like  floating  drap'ry  roniid. 


The  fip 
only  one 
a  fiinall  p 
Spring  sL 
G 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


61 


Ituliuu  Lc<(en(I. 


IV. 

From  forth  the  forest  deepest  gloom, 

There  moved  wiili  stealthy  pace, 
A  female  form  of  lovely  mould, 

And  beauty's  witching  face  ; 
Upon  her  brow  the  summer  sun, 

And  the  free  desert  air 
Had  cast  a  mellow  auburn  tint, 

With  love  to  revel  there. 

V. 

Slie  came  to  bathe  in  that  pure  sprjng, 

As  forth  the  waters  boil'd ; 
Her  hand  she  raised  to  touch  the  fount, 

Back!   back!   1  he  stream  rccoil'd. 
IJeci)  printed  on  (hat  beating  heart. 

Forever  to  remain, 
In  spite  of  tears  and  cleansing  founit;, 

There  was  a  guilty  slain. 


VI. 

Down  in  the  bosom  of  the  lock, 

The  gurgling  founuiin  fell ; 
There  still  it  llowg,  and  its  lone  sound. 

As  notes  of  warning  swell. 
That  guilty  one  in  frantic  fear, 

Fled  witli  desponding  shame  ; 
Nor  was  siir  ever  lieard  of  more, 

And  none  recaU'd  her  name. 

The  spot  nronnd  ibc  IJigli  Rock  Spring  socnia  to  be  the 
only  01,0  that  has  Ihllcn  into  neglect.     It  ahouJd  not  be  so; 
a  fcmall  park  with  trees,  bhoiild  surroitnd  it,  and  over  fhc 
Spring  should  be  erected  a  liiiht  and  airy  temple 
G 


fiiih 


mb . 


\     .! 

hi 

'i ' 

rl 

62 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


WiiUon,  or  loiliue  Spriiifi. 


H 


Walton,  or  Iodine  Spring. -Not  far  from  the 
[lock,  in  a  northerly  direction,  is  the  Walton  or 
Iodine  Spring,  formerly  called  the  President's  Spring.  It 
is  a  beautiful  water,  and  is  much  used  on  account  ot  tho 
medical  efficacy  of  Iodine  in  certain  diseases.  As  there  is 
also  less  iron  in  it  than  in  the  other  Springs,  to  a  ccrtau. 
class  oi  patients  it  wUl  prove  useful.  To  others  however, 
the  iron  ixirms  the  principal  virtue. 

On  account  of  the  Iodine,  this  Spring  has  been  rccom- 
mended  im-  many  forms  of  scrofula,  goitre,  and  some 
other  diseases  of  a  like  nature. 

Professor  Ennuon.,  of  the  Medical  College  in  Aloany 
and  one  of  the  New-York  State  Geologists,  has  furmelied 
an  analysis  of  one   .nllon   of  the  water  of  the  Walton 
Spring,  and  find,  that   it  contains  the  following  ingrcdi- 

t^n^«=  drains. 

.....  187 

....  26 

....  1 

....  75 

....  '^ 

»    .    •    '  ^h 

Cubic  iiichco'. 


Muriate  of  Soda, 
Carbonate  of  Lime, 
Carbonate  of  Iron,  .  • 
Carbonate  of  Magnesia,  /  » 
Carbonate  of  Soda,  .  .  .  • 
Hydriodate  of  Soda,  or  Iodine, 


Carbonic  acid  gas,  (iVom  water  which  had 

been  bottled  three  weeks,)  .     •     *    *     •     ^^^ 

Atmospheric  air, *     '    ,'  i 

Besides  the  Si^rin-ss  that  have  been  described,  several 
others  might  be  mentioned,  but  as  they  i>0BBe«s  no  l^cu^ 
harity,  and  are  but  seldom  visit ed,    it  will  bo   saihcu  u 
simply  to  enumerate  some  of  them. 


The 
High  I^ 
and  aroi 

The' 
villngc. 
Springs 
a  walk  1 

The  : 

The  ( 
ten  mile 

The  i 
Lake, 
prcgnate 


It  wa 
Spriiigs 
the  Spri 
no  inten 
within  t] 
yet  he  fe 
notice  al 
Springs 

Wash 
littk  jnt( 
^o  those  1 


".m 


JAUNT    TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


63 


Ballsfoii  Spa. 


The  Red  Sprlvg,  about  eighty  rode  east  from  the 
High  Rock,  80  named  from  the  iron  like  deposite  within 
and  around  it. 

The  Ten  Springs.  —  These  are  about  a  mile  east  of  the 
village.  They  are  in  the  same  ravine  as  the  Saratoga 
Springs,  and  are  of  a  similar  description.  To  pedestrians, 
a  walk  to  these  Si)ringa  is  an  agreeable  excursion. 

The  Ellis  Spring,  two  miles  south  of  the  village. 

The  Quaker  Si'rixgs,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town, 
ten  miles  from  Saratoga. 

The  Sulphur  Spring,  on  the  cast  side  of  Saratoga 
Lake.  This  Spring  is  well  spoken  of;  it  is  deeply  im- 
pregnated with  8ul]ihur,  and  the  water  is  abundant. 


i    'i 


187 

26 

X 

75 
3 


330 


BALLSTOX    SPA. 

It  was  not  intended  to  notice  any  other  mineral 
Springs  but  those  of  Saratoga;  by  omitting  to  describe 
the  Springs  either  at  Ballston  or  other  places,  there  is 
no  intention  to  underrate  them  — they  do  not  come 
within  the  limits  the  author  prescribed  for  this  work; 
yet  he  feels  it  incumbent  to  add  in  addition  to  the  slight 
notice  already  made  of  Ballston  Spa,  that  among  the 
Springs  yet  celebrated  at  that  place,  is  the 

Washington  Spring.  — If.*  chalybeate  quality  is  but 
littU;  intermixed  with  other  ingredients,  and  is  valuable 
^o  those  who  wish  to  use  a  pure  water  of  this  description. 


04 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


Ol)Hervations  on  IMincral  Waters. 


One  of  the  SaiiB  Souci  Springs  is  used  for  its  cathartic 
effects,  and  to  some  it  is  an  agreeable  and  pleasant  drnik. 

The  Park  Spring,  is  highly  spoken  of  as  being  among 
the  best  acidulous  chalybeate  water  afforded  in  this  or  any 

other  country.  r  <i  « 

The  Sans  Souci.  -This  is  very  similar  to  some  ot  tnc 
best  Springs  of  Saratoga  in  its  acidulous,  chalybeate  and 
BQlinc  (jualities,  and  is  in  nso  for  like  medical  purposes. 

By  these  hasty  notices  it  will  be  perceived,  that  as  well 
as  from  location  and  accommodation  for  visitors,  Ballston 
has  yet  in  its  rich  medical  waters,  a  strong  claim  upo.i 
the  public  for  a  portion  of  their  patronage 


1 


MINERAL    WATERS. 

"  Go  wash  in  Uie  rool  of  t^iloam." 

The  cfiicacy  of  mineral  waters  to  euro  all  diseases  is 
not  to  be  expected,  and  by  their  greatest  advocates  eo 
much  has  been  claimed  for  them;  but  that  they  possess 
curative  powers,  and  have  proved  successful  in  thousands 
of  cases,  has  not  been  denied  even  by  those  who  are  most 
incredulous  as  to  their  salutary  operauon  a  general. 
Much  weight  liowever,  has  been  placed  upon  change  ol 
air,  healthful  exercise,  cessation  from  ordinary  occupa- 
tions, variety  of  eccnee,  amusements,  the  excitement  ot 


compan; 

restorati 

round  ol 

year,  he 

60  long, 

so  to  hii 

served  U 

turn  froi 

mo3pher( 

a  change 

resumed 

depresses 

and  ende 

or  an  occ 

To  tho 

to  medic 

the  use  0 

Mincrn 

1st.    T 

carbonic 

the  glass 

gent  tast( 

2d.    a 

is  iron. 

With  gallt 

lous.     Tb 

3d.  ^m 

dients,  sui 

and   carbc 

Saratoga  ; 

4th.    ;S 

6* 


JATTNT    TO   SARATOGA    fiPRTNGS. 


65 


of  Ihe 
te  and 

=es. 

aa  well 
;allato)i 
a  upon 


RCaSCS   IB 

jcates  60 
y  possess 
liousands 
are  most 

general. 
ihangc  of 

occupa- 
cment  of 


■ 


Tlie  acidulous  waters. 


company,  and  tbe  like.     These  are  undoubtedly  valuable 
restoratives  to  feeble  habits.      Man    tires  with    th?   dull 
round  of  occupation  to  which  day  after  day,  and  year  after 
year,  he  has  been  bound.     The  very  air  he  has  breathed 
so  long,  thciyh  fresh  and  healthful  to  others,  is  no  longer 
so  to  him.     The  fond  we  cat,  be  it  ever  so  delicious,  if 
served  to  us  repeatedly,  palls   upon  the  appetite,  and  wc 
turn  from  it  with  loalhing.     It  is  the  same  with  the  at- 
mosphere; it  loses  its  accustomed  elasticity,  its  f. e&hness; 
a  change  is  necessary;  and  when  we  rolurn,  we  find  it  has 
resumed  its  pristine   purity  — the  air  of  home  no  longer 
depresses,  but  refreshes.     To   give  to  home  all  its  value 
and  endearments,  nothing  can  be  better  than  travelling, 
or  an  occasional  excursion  abroad. 

To  those  in  ill  health,  much  is  to  be  gained  by  a  resort 
to  medicinal  springs,  besides  the  advantages  derived  from 
the  use  of  the  water. 
Mineral  waters  are  usually  classed  under  four  heads. 
Ist.    The   Acidulous.     The^e  are  highly  charged  with 
carbonic  acid,  or  the  acid  of  charcoal.     They  sparkle  in 
the  glass  when  drawn  from  the  spring,  and  have  a  pun- 
gent  taste.     The  Saratoga  waters  are  of  this  kind. 

2d.  Chalyhcatcs.  The  distinguishing  feature  of  these 
is  iron.  They  have  an  acrid  taste  ;  form  a  black  color 
With  galls,  or  oak  bark.  Some  of  them  are  also  acidu- 
lous.     The  Saratoga  waters  are  also  of  this  kind. 

3d.  Valine.  This  class  contain  different  saline  ingre- 
dients, such  as  sulphate  of  magnesia  and  soda,  muriates 
and  carbonates  of  soda  and  lime.  The  springs  also  of 
Saratoga  are  alike  of  this  class. 

4th.    Sulphurous.     Their  prevailing  character  arises 
6* 


i 


I! 


■i  I  t> 


'I  I 


H 


(fafc.-a!Wjt<i 


66 


JAUNT   TO    BARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


I    I  ! 


il 

1  1 

II 

ill :''' ' 

jiiii^i 

i 

1 

ii 

Saratoga  waters  as  a  lievcraec. 


from  the  presence  of  Bulpburrctcd  bydrogen,  either  iin- 
combined,  or  united  with  lime,  nn  alkali,  iron,  &c.~ 
One  of  the  Monroe  Springs,  at  Snrnloga,  is  sulphurous. 

These  are  the  four  great  clas.ea  of  mineral  springs,  and 
of  some  of  these  are  all   the  celebrated  springs  scattered 
over  Europe  and  America.     At  Saratoga  there  is  combi- 
ned  all  the  essential  virtues  of  those  that  are  most  highly 
approved.     They  are  Acididons,   ChahjhcaU,  Saline,  and 
Sulphurous.     At  Saratoga  nature  has  left  nothing  want- 
ing  in  this  respect,  but  Thermal  vvaters;    and   these  for 
all  useful  purposes,  are  furnished  by  art,  in  the  numerous 
'and   commodious   baths    which  have   of  late   years  been 

erected.  •    ^  a 

The   temperature  of  the  Saratoga  Springs  is  low,  and 

ranches  between  48"^  and  51"  Fahrenheit. 


THE    USE    OF    THE    SARATOGA    WATERS    SIMPLY 
AS    A    DRINK,    AND    MEDICINALLY. 

■  "  FiVon  hero,  let  not 


The  thoughtless  fasliion  of  the  giddy  crowd 
Tempt  thee  too  fur.'* 

If  used  simply  as  a  drink  by  those  who  are  in  health, 
when  no  medical  operation  is  desired,  all  that  is  required 
is  moderation.  The  temperate  use  of  them  is  healthfitl, 
and  beneficial:  but  to  use  them  to  excess  is  dangeroufi 
even  to  those  whose  health  is  sound. 


JAUNT    TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


67 


in  health, 

8  required 

healthful, 

dangeroufi 


In  ill  lipalili  consult  a  physician. 


Invalids,  and  all  those  who  desire  to  use  them  as  a 
medicine,  unless  they  are  themselves  well  acquainted 
with  mineral  water?",  and  Ih?  nature  of  the  disease  with 
which  they  are  a(llict;jd,  should  nover  commence  upon 
their  use  without  iinst  consulting  with  a  regular  physi- 
cian, well  experienced  in  a  knowledga  of  the  medicinal 
effjcts  of  mineral  waters.  Thouirh  in  this  work  a  variety 
of  diseases  arc  mentioned  in  which  thjso  waters  have  been 
used  beneficially,  yet  th-jsj  must  be  considered  as  mere 
indications  to  those  who  desire  to  use  th;.'ni,  founded  on 
the  hest  authoiity;  but  it  is  the  experience  and  authoiiLy 
of  others,  and  not  positive  directions  emanating  fr.)m  tho 
author.  His  advice  is  always  to  consult  a  physician  who 
resides  upon  the  spot,  and  one  who  has  closely  studied 
the  character  of  diseases  in  general,  and  who  well  knows 
the  virtues  and  effects  of  the  nudicinc  to  be  used. 

To  those  who  desire  tho  waters  to  operate  as  a  cathar- 
tic, it  is  recommended  that  they  rise  early  in  the  morning 
and  repair  to  tho  spring  which  they  prefer,  and  take  two 

tumblers  of  the  water;   then   a   little  exercise a  walk 

to  the  circular  railroad,  to  the  Washington,  or  Hamilton 
Spring,  where  one  more  glass  may  be  taken.  In  most 
cases  this  will  be  sufFicient,  but  some  persons  require 
more,  and  a  glass  may  be  taken  at  Putnam's  Concn-ess. 
the  Pavdion,  the  Monroe,  Flat  Rock  and  Walton  Springs, 
in  all  about  four  pints.  This  is  ihe  utmost  limit,  and 
seems  to  be  too  large  a  quantity;  but  even  six  pints  have 
been  allowed;  but  more  should  m  no  case  be  presumed  to 
be  taken.  Some  however  have  imprudently  taken  much 
larger  quantities,  even  to  the  extent  of  two  gallons  and 
a  half  before  the  hour  of  dinner.     By  the  time  the  round 


i 


68 


JAUNT   TO   SARATOOA    SPRINGS. 


Halhifiii  at  Mie  .S|»riii<;H. 


of  the  springs  has  been  made,  the  nppclilo  will  be  pre- 
pared for  breakfast,  and  it  will  be  proper  to  return  to  tho 
hotel. 

As  a  daily  drink,  from  f  )ur  to  ci^dit  glaseca  is  a  suitable 
quantity;  ordinarily  it  is  not  advisable  to  exceed  this  per 
diem.  When  the  water  lies  heavy  on  the  stomach,  caus- 
mg  unpleasant  sensations,  its  use  should  be  discontinued. 


H:'  1 


»  ill]! 


li  i<>L'l 


THE    USE    OF    THE    WATERS    IN    BATHING,    AND 
THE    I5ATH    IN    GENERAL. 

*♦  Abana  ct  Parpar,  flouves  dc  Danias,  no  sont-ils  pas  nipilleurs 
que  toiitos  iRH  oaiix  d'lsracl!  Nc  iii'y  lavcrois-jc  pas  bien,  ct  je 
deviendrois  not .'" 

Watering  places  arc  not  only  frequented  for  the  pur- 
pose of  drinking  the  waters,  but  also  for  another  consid- 
eration, often  more  important  in  the  cure  of  diseases,  the 
judicious  use  of  the  bath;  and  as  the  most  ample  arrange- 
ments are  made  at  Saratoga  for  bathing,  any  directions  to 
visitors  would  be  very  incomplete,  were  this  subject  omit- 
ted. As  it  is  dangerous  to  drink  the  waters  to  any  great 
extent,  either  in  good  or  ill  health,  without  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  their  virtues  and  powers,  so  the  bath  should 
not  be  resorted  to  without  possessing  some  experience  or 
information  on  the  subject.  The  bather  should  at  least 
know  the  kind  of  bath  most  suitable,  when  to  be  taken, 
the  temperature,  and  the  length  of  time  to  remain  therein. 


JAUNT    TO    SARATOOA    SPRINGS. 


OU 


iJciirficial  etlccts  of  the  I{;,tli 


The   },alh,   as  a  remedy  for  "di^^J^^^T^;^^ 
Tl,c  a„li,|„i,y  of  ha(l,i„g,  He  ccncral  prevalence  omonrr 

vinuca  01  the  bulh,  ,(a  Beaswmblo  an,l  proj.or  mo  „ro  not 
«ono,aIly  appreciated,  and  b,a  litlle  regard  d.    ZZ  Z 

1  loa^nt  01..  ef.eelual  remedy  l„  (l,e  cure  of  tl,e  manr 
.ca.a  to  „,„eU  ™,.ki„d  i.  .„.ject  as  ,Ue  J,      ^    , 

.0  of"  ;r;""'  '"T""'  "'""'""^  '»  ">"■""- 
I  all      f  >   f  ■™"'-     ^'""•SHMOral  renovator  of  the 

;  I      ;7.'=-^'""'"  ""l"'™'-"  »n  give  con,for,, 

I'lo,   the  A,„encana  have  paid  the  lea^t  attention  to  its 

Doct   Bell,  i„  hi.,  hook  on  hathin,?,  observes:    "  A  bath 
ouse  should  be  dcen.cd  of  iu.portaaco  only  secondary 

«  kdchen    or  a  cooking  stove,  and  certainly  should  take 
recedencc  of  rooms  idled  with  eos.ly  Lniture  at 

devoted  to  company  keeping." 
As  to  the  eirects  of  bathing  upon   (he  human  system 

ef ;:  s  °  Ti!:  rT  r"-"'"  ■-  "^  -Native,;::':; 

of  en  ,1  ;      ^'"  '""'•"'  "'"'  "-""n   ''"ths  have   not  only 

latn  g.     The  hot   bath  is  held  to  be  highly  stimulatinL- 
n  the  use  of  „„  „e  baths  much  depends  upon  th^] 

hoa<th,  the  disease,  and  the  peculiar  stage  of  the  discaae. 


!      •       1 


'       1     f 


:)  ^i 


70 


TAUNT    TO    SARATO( 


PRINOH. 


1i!!i!i 


I  -I 


(^old  I 


Tbo  ufio  of  the  mineral  wnl  "t  Snmtoga  fer  the  i^ir- 
poBCB  of  the  bath,  is  a  Biibjccl  oi'  iniicli  impoiinnc  but 
one  on  wliich  cxi)(;ricncc  cems  not  as  yet  to  bnv*  i&^ 
any  great  tloj,'rec  of  lirrhl.  IJjitbing  in  sulpburouB  water 
has  long  been  advantngrouply  used  tor  ■  ay  cutaneous 
diseaaes;  and  tbo  warm  sulphurous  Imtli  L-.h  often  proved 
morit  happy  in  its  ctlect  in  relieving  many  distressing 
cases  of  rlieumatiem,  but  always  after  a  long  and  perse- 
vering course. 

Of  the  other  waters  of  Saratoga,  and  indeed  tho«'  ir 
which  the  place  is  most  celebrr.led,  they  have  been  re- 
commended in  general  to  bo  used  externally  in  the  bath, 
at  the  pame  time  that  they  are  taken  internally.  It  is 
said  by  those  who  have  had  an  experimental  knowledge 
of  these  waters,  that  they  are  decidedly  superior  to  any 
others  for  this  purpose.  They  are  used  in  the  ordinary 
manner,  in  the  cold,  teprid,  warm  or  hot  bath. 


THE    COLD    BATH. 


"  BatliR  on,  my  fair 


-  I  go  to  frnard  thy  Iiannt, 


To  keep  from  thy  recess  each  vagrant  foot. 
And  each  licentious  f^yc" 

This  being  the  most  common  and  the  most  convenient, 
its  temperature,  time  of  use,  period  of  continuance,  and 
some  of  the  diseases  for  which  it  is  recommended,  will 
first  bo  mentioned. 


• 


I 


For 

The  t( 

ranges 

it  as  1 

An  ( 

ters  on 

thai  it 

latest  c 

The 

fore  di: 

r>r>xt  to 

last.     ] 

ciee  sh( 

Bathe  \ 

food  un 

wipe  tl] 

cient  cl( 

To  bo 

sufHcien 

A  sin, 

dinarily 

Soon 

shock,  V 

body    bo 

should  1] 

and  the  1 

of  the  b 

iew  degri 

Medici 

water,    e 

known  li 


JAUNT    TO    MARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


71 


Huiiahleiiiiicfn--  IJathinp. 


I  or  those  .n  good  honnh,  i       proper  hath  in  nnn.orsion. 
I  he  temperature  of  th.    eohl  hntliihr  ren.ediul  purposes, 
mvres  from  50-  to  70-  Fahrenheit.     Some  hove  ranged 
It  ns  low  as  from  32-  lo  05-  Fahrenheit. 

An  extraordinary  cHli;.ren«.e  of  opinion  exists  with  wri- 
crs  on  the  power  and  effects  of  the  cold  hath;  one  holding 
hat  It  IS  sUmuIating,  the  other  that  it  is  sedative.     The 
latest  authorities  are  in  favor  of  its  sedative  effects. 

Ihe  hest  time  for  hathing  is  allowed  to  he  an  hour  be- 
lore  dinner,  or  after  the  digestion  of  the  morning  meal- 
-xt  to  this  is  the  morning,  .r  a  .hort  time,  before  break- 

iast.  If  a.er  the  hath  the  body  is  cold,  moderate  exer- 
CISC  should  ne  u.ed  to  raise  it  to  its  proper  temperature. 
Bathe  when  the  stomach  is  empty,  and  not  after  takmg 
lood  uiitd  the  digestion  is  over.  Alter  leaving  the  water 
wipe  the  body  briskly,  and  imn.ediately  dress  with  sufli- 
cient  clothing  to  preserve  the  heallhlul  temperature 

To  bathe  every  other,  or  third  day,  is  usually  ueeounted 
sufhcient. 

A  single  plunge  in  Ihe  cokl  bulla  i«  olic,,  cnuugh:  ot- 
dnwrily  ,t  Bbould  not  exceed  biit  u  Ibw  niiuulcs 

See,,  niter  (he  glow  of  wurnXh  is  fell,  ea.,Jed  by  the 
shock  we  should  withdraw,  „„d  not  rcmoia  until  the 
body   becomes   chilled.     The  cent  inum.ce   in   the   water 

.ml  theba  hsho,  d  never  be  used  when  the  temperature 
ot  the  body  ,8  below  the  etmidard  of  health.  If  it  ;.  . 
iow  degrees  „bove,  the  bathin,.  will  be  more  agreeable. 

iVIedical  professors  have  prescribed  the  use  of  cold 
vvater,  externally,  in  m„„y  eases;  they  arc  generally 
>^i'own  by  an  ...xeited   ac„„n  of  the  blood:  ,o  ,',an,tl 


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72 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


Cases  ill  which  tho  Cold  Katli  may  l)c  used. 

lions  internal,  ns  well  as  extcrnnl.  Some  of  the  most 
enlightened  members  of  the  profession,  consider  the  ap- 
plication of  cold,  in  some  cases,  as  highly  importont,  and 
at  times,  a  valuable  substitute  for  blood  letting. 

It  is  suitable  to  persons  in  good  health,  to  the  fleshy, 
to  the  temperate,  and  to  those  who  use  suitable  exercise. 

It  is  injurious  to  thin  habits,  old  men,  children,  cold 
constitutions,  and  those  live  who  intemperately  and  use 
no  exercise. 

It  is  dangerous  in  a  state  of  perspiration,  after  vomiting, 
purging,  watching,  and  to  those  who  arc  not  accustomed 
to  at. 

In  nervous  diseases,  as  they  arise  from  different  causes, 
cold  bathing  may  be  useful  in  some  coses,  and  injurious 
in  others 

Washing  the  head  in  cold  water  has  aggravated  the 
heaviness  and  pain. 

Bathing  the  feet  in  cold  water  is  injurious  to  the 
dyspeptic  and  hypochondraic. 

An  occasional  cold  sponging  is  useful  to  the  sedentary, 
engaged  in  close  and  confined  apartments,  at  the  desk^ 
or  study — who  complain  of  troublesome  heat,  and  dry- 
ness of  the  hands,  and  sometimes  of  the  feet,  with  quick 
pulse   and   thirst. 

Cold  washings  and  affusions  in  cases  of  wounds,  bruises, 
and  even  old  sores,  when  used  persevering! y,  liave  hod 
the  best  effects  in  allaying  pain  and  inflammation;  and  in 
many  instances,  have  effected  wonderful  cures  in  cases 
almost  hopeless. 

The  cold  bath  has  been  successfully  used  in  scorlet 
fever;  and  in  pains  accompanied  with  eruptions,  called 
miliary,  cold  affusions  have  been  used  advantageouely. 


^NT   TO   SARATOGA    SPRINGP.  73 

Sun  atroke- Lightning  and  Electricity." 


^   In  spit  mg  of  blood  from  tbe  lunge,  the  cold  bath  has 

of  o2  Fahr.  applied  to  the  cheat  of  a  patient  with  this 
disease,  arrested  the  flow  of  blood,  without  any  accom- 
panying  or  subsequent  inconvenience. 

In  vomiting  of  blood,  and  in  bleeding  from  the  bowels, 
pdes,  and  hemorraghage  -  cold  affusions  to  the  portion 
of  the  body  affected  has  proved  servicable. 

The  burning  of  the  skin  from  the  sun's  rays,  the  ac 
compnnying  head-ache,  violent  fever,  and  delirium,  and 
sometimes  insensibility,  constituting  what  is  called  a 
suns  stroke,"- repeated  cold  affusions,  when  freely 
used,  have  had  the  best  effect.  Poisoning  from  opium 
and  narcotics. 

In  injuries  by  lightning,  or  when  struck  by  the  electric 
fluid,  several  pails  of  cold  water  having  been  thrown  on 
the  sufferer,  animation  and  life  have  been  restored. 

In  convulsions  and  spasmodic  diseases,  the  cold  bath 
has  been  greatly  resorted  to. 

Obstinate  constipation  of  the  bowels,  has  frequently 
been  relieved  by  cold  afliiaions.  To  be  used,  however, 
in  cases  where  there  is  much  heat  and  irritation  and 
when  no  danger  exists  of  stopping  perspiration.  The 
same  has  been  used  to  good  effect,  in  inflammation  of  the 
joints,  dislocations  and  fractures. 

Females  with  cold  skins  ar.d    phlegmatic  habits,  and 
exhausted  by  previous  disease,  and  who  are  clear  of  fever 
wdl  be  injured  by  cold  bathing.     Palsy  of  the  tongue,  or 
loss  of  voice,  has  been  cured  by  the  cold  bath. 

.^.    u     °"y  ^^^r^«t'on  from  intemperance,  the  cold  bath 
should  not  be  used  for  some  days. 
7 


'74 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


Tepid  and  Warm  Batlit*. 


THE    TEPID    BATH. 


Of  this,  little  need  be  eaid,  as  it  ranges  between  the 
cold  and  warm  ;  or  between  70"  and  0*2°  Fahrenheit,  and 
its  effects  are  altogether  intermediate. 


THE    WARM    BATH. 


t    i: 


,1,1 


I    ,1 


I,  I 


!  'lit 


The  success  of  the  warm  l)ath  depends  upon  the  well 
regulated  temperature  of  the  bath,  the  time  of  taking  if, 
and  on  exercise  and  regimen. 

The  limits  of  the  warm  bath  are  between  92°  and  98* 
Fahrenheit.  A  thermometer  shnidd  bo  in  every  ba1hiii| 
room,  by  which  the  temperature  should  l)e  regulated, 
and  not  always  by  the  sensations  of  the  batht^r. 

In  general,  the  water  should  be  brought  to  a  lukc-warni 
state  to  the  arm,  fooling  neither  hot  nor  cold.  After  the 
bath  is  entered  it  may  be  raised  to  its  proper  tempera- 
ture. Whether  the  warm  bath  is  to  prove  pleaaurable, 
beneficial,  or  hurtful,  depends  mainly  on  its  temperature. 
For  those  in  health,  the  best  temperature  is  that  state 
which  produces  the  most  agreeable  seneations.  This  is 
ordinarily  found  to  be  between  93°  and  95°  Fahrenheit. 

Of  the  two  it  is  better  to  have  the  bath  rather  cool 
than  warm.  If  entered  too  warm  we  lose  the  power  of 
judging  the  degree  of  heat  most  bencficiaU 


i 


JAUNT    TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


76 


ween  the 
heit,  nnd 


the  well 
nking  if, 

ond  98^ 
/  ba11iin| 
cgnlalcd, 

kc-wnrni 
\iler  the 
tcmpera- 
asurable, 
pciatiire. 
hat  state 
This  is 
enheit. 
Lhcr  cool 
power  of 


TJic  urcut  cxocllnncf  of  the  Warm  Hath. 


Though  the  bath  be  of  the  same  degree  as  the  animal 
heal,  ycf  after  a  few  minutes  imm.  rsion  the  heat  of  the 
body  will  be  very  mate.. Jly  increased. 

The  bath  may  be  used  before  breakfast,  or  dinner,  but 
never  immedialely  after  eating.  An  hour  or  so  before 
dinner,  after  the  digestion  of  the  morning  meal,  seems  to 
be  most  generally  recommended. 

Suitable,  though  not  severe  exercise  should  follow  the 
use  of  the  bath. 

The  apprehension  of  being  chilled,  and  suffering  from 
cold  by  expoeiirc  to  the  open  air,  after  the  warm  bath,  is 
not  well  founded;  the  usual  occupations  of  life  can  be 
l)ursucd  through  the  remainder  of  the  day,  not  only  with- 
out  injury,  but  with  renewed  animation. 

The  air  in  the  bath  house  should  be  agreeably  warm. 
With  this  precaution  and  suitable  clothing,  there  is  no 
more  danger  of  going  into  the  cold  air  after  the  use  of 
the  bath,  than  from  a  warm  bed  in  a  winter's  morning. 
The  body  in  both  cases  is  refreshed,  and  is  truly  more 
able  to  resist  the   cold.     Doct.  Coffin,  of  Boston,  from 
whose  treatise  a  portion  of  the  compilation  on  this  sub- 
ject is  taken,  observes:     <<  I  have  taken  the  warm  bath  in 
the  warmest  and  coldest  seasons  of  the  year,  more  with  a 
view  to  observe  its  effects  on  my  own  health,  than  need 
of  its  restorative    influence;    and  I  can  truly   pay,  after 
bathing  in  both  extremes  of  weather,   that  I  have  been 
equally  and  uniformly  less  sensible  of  the  inconvenience 
from  heat  or  cold.     I  have  always  felt  more  light,  cheer- 
ful and  active,  and  more  inclined  and  better  fitted  for  a 
full   and   successful  employment  of  the  powers  of  mind 
and  body."     Among  the  means  of  preserving  beauty,  as 


■I 


m 


1i 


'  f 


I, 


'.! 


I  I 


■  lli 


i        ...HI 


76 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPR1N08. 


Duration  of  tho  Warm  Halli. 


well  ns  health,  a  lady  recommcndB,  that  by  such  abhitionB 
**  all  accidental  impurities  arc  thrown  off;  cutaneous  ob- 
Btructions  removed;  and  while  the  surface  of  the  body  is 
preserved  in  its  original  brightness,  many  threatening 
disorders  are  checked  or  prevented.  By  f=uch  means  the 
women  of  the  cast  preserve  their  health  which  sedentary 
confinement  would  otherwise  destroy."  Darwin  eays: 
**  To  those  who  are  past  the  meridian  of  life,  and  begin 
to  be  emaciated,  the  warm  batli,  for  half  an  hour,  twicd  a 
week,  I  believe  eminently  serviceable  in  retarding  the 
advances  of  age." 

^  The  effects  of  the  warm  bath  arc  tranquilizing,  it 
allays  excitement,  moderates  excessive  heat,  invigorates 
after  the  fatigue  of  a  journey,  and  always  refreshes  and 
renovates. 

The  duration  of  the  warm  bath  is  much  longer  than 
the  cold.  It  may  be  continued  from  half  an  hour  to  an 
hour;  some  have  even  taken  a  short  and  pleasant  sleep 
in  it. 

Though  the  most  suitable  time  for  using  the  bath  is 
considered  to  be  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day,  yet  it  may 
be  used  in  the  evening,  after  the  fatigue  of  travelling 
through  the  heat  and  over  dusty  roads;  but  not  upon  a 
full  stomach. 

A  part  only  of  the  cases  in  which  it  is  used  medicin- 
ally, are  the  following: 

Morbid  sensibility;  acute  pain  alone,  or  accompanied 
with  irregular  and  convulsive  action  of  the  muscles. 

Convulsions  of  children;  hysterical  alToctions  of  females; 
cholic,  from  the  simple  spasmodic  to  the  bilious  and  pain- 
ters. 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


77 


blutions 
C0U8  ob- 

body  is 
calcning 
cnna  tho 
edontary 
in  eays: 
id  begin 

twice  a 
ling  the 

izing,  it 
/igorates 
shcs  and 

gor  than 
iir  to  an 
int  Bleep 

3  bath  ifl 
t  it  may 
ravelling 
t  upon  a 

medicin- 

)mpanied 
lee. 

■females; 
md  pain- 


Its  medical  use. 


Cramp   in   the  stomach,  and  obstinate  costivenees  of 
the  bowels.     Warm  bathing,  and  fumigations  with  cloths 
dipped   in    warm  vinegar  or    simple    warm   water,  will 
greatly  relieve  the  pain.     It  is  the  readiest  and  surest  re- 
lief to  be  offered  in  this  dangerous  and  painful  disease. 

Mania,  and  mental  derangement,  in  which  extreme 
wakefulness,  and  dry  skin,  are  predominant  symptoms. 

Infantile  cholera,  and  cholera  morbus  ;  dysentery  and 
diarrhoea,  more  particularly  of  the  chronic  kind. 

Warm  bathing  is  adapted  to  all  diseases  of  the  respira- 
tory organs. 

Catarrh  and  influenza,  whether  in  the  first  stages  or 
seated,  are  greatly  mitigated,  and  at  times  completely 
cured. 

Bronchitis,  especially  of  the  sub-acute;  asthma,  ner- 
vous or  spasmodic;  organic  affections  of  the  heart;  chro- 
nic inflammations  of  the  liver. 

The  most  obstinate  eruptions  of  the  skin  have  yielded 
to  this  remedy.  When  there  is  much  heat  and  itching, 
the  temperature  of  the  bath  should  not  exceed  90°  Fah- 
renheit. 

In  the  early  stage  of  fevers,  a  warm  bath  would  fre- 
quently go  far  to  arrest  the  disorder. 

Recent  suppression  of  respiration;  pains  in  the  mus- 
cles. 

The  sickly  sensibility  and  pains  which  often  foljow 
after  a  mercurial  course,  are  very  happily  abated  by  the 
warm  bath. 

7* 


^^■i 


in 


78 


JAUNT   TO   SARATOOA    SPRINGS. 


P  pi  fin 


ft 


H 


H 


1,    l.l 


'viiiJ 


The  Hot  and  Vapor  Baths. 


THE   HOT   BATH. 

The  hot  bath  is  gencrnlly  undcrslood  lo  be  of  a 
heal  exceeding  98"  Fahrenheit.  It  is  highly  stimulating 
and  i8  often  violent,  and  marked  in  its  eficcta  on  the 
human  body. 

There  are  few  cases  in  which  the  hot  bath  can  be  used 
with  utility.  It  enfeebles;  and  is  pernicious  to  weak  and 
delicate  persons. 

The  sanguinary  and  robust;  those  of  full  habits  and 
large  heads,  and  who  are  inclined  to  be  drowsy  after  ex- 
ercise, or  any  exertion,  after  a  meal;  those  who  are 
liable  to  spitting  of  blood;  or  whose  skins  are  very  sen- 
sitive to  heat  —  should  avoid  the  hot  bath. 

Persons  in  good  health  had  better  omit  it. 

The  advantages  of  the  hot  bath  in  some  long  con- 
tinued affections  of  the  skin,  hns  been  admitted  by 
practitioners;  and,  in  a  vast  number  of  other  cases,  it 
has  been  judiciously  applied;  but,  without  a  full  know- 
ledge of  its  use,  or  medical  advice,  it  would  be  best 
not  to  resort  to  it. 


THE    VAPOR   BATH. 

'*  The  od'rous  drug,  the  blazing  Home  consumes 
In  wary  clouds  ascend  its  rich  perfumes; 
Mildly,  perspiring  prone,  the  bather  lies, 
While  round  his  form  luxurious  vapors  rise." 

There  are  two  kinds  t)f  this  bath;  one  of  simple  watery 
vapor,  or  hot  dry  air;  the  other  medicated  or  compound, 
holding  in  solution  various  medicinal  substances. 


TAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


79 


Vapor  Bath  for  tlip,  Hydroiiholiia. 


It  is  necessary,  in  many  coses,  to  exclude  the  head 
from  the  vapor;  and  especially  so,  when  the  compounds 
are  of  a  deleterious  qualify.  When  the  head  is  exposed 
to  the  simple  vapor,  the  stimulating  effects  of  the  bath 
are  greatly  increased. 

The  temperature  of  a  simple  vapor  bath  varies  from 
90»  to  150O  Fahrenheit. 

Vapor  acts  upon  the  surface,  and  produces  nearly  the 
some  effects  as  sponging  or  fomentation. 

The  information  as  to  the  medical  effects  of  the  vapor 
bath  i&  limited,  though  from  the  earliest  ages,  and  in 
modern  times,  it  has  been  much  used. 

In  cutaneous  diseases,  this  remedy  is  considered  valua- 
ble. Ulcers,  are  greatly  benefitted  by  moist  vapor  alone, 
or  in  alternation  with  sulphurous  and  mercurial  fumi- 
gations. 

It  is  useful  in  tumnfactiona  of  the  lymphatic  glands, 
especially  those  of  a  scrofulous  nature  along  the  neck. 

In  painful  affections  of  the  joints,  whether  chronic, 
gout  or  rheumatism,  it  proves  useful. 

Chronic  glandular  inflations  of  the  liver  and  pancreas, 
and  tumafactions  of  the  epleen,  are  often  much  relieved, 
and  at  times  effectually  cured. 

Chronic  afFections  of  the  digestive  passages,  muscular 
rigidity,  suspended  animation,  and  some  stages  of  fever. 

In  all  the  cases  mentioned,  the  head  of  the  patient 
should  not  be  exposed  to  the  vapor.  * 

The  Hydrophobia,  too,  that  most  strange  and  horrid  of 
all  diseases,  it  is  said,  has  been  cured  by  the  vapor  bath. 
M.   Buison,  a  Parisian  physician,  in  a  late   publication, 
aseerta  that  he  was  affected  with  this  disease,  that  on  the 


i 
I 


I 


T'''mmm 


80 


JAUNT    TO    SARATOGA    SPRIXOS. 


ii 


■     i      i 


I 


jHiti 


M' 


RusHJnn  Bmh. 


ninth  day  after  receiving  the  infection  he  was  suddenly 
seized  with  puin  in  his  throat  and  eyes.  The  saliva  ran 
from  his  mouth,  a  current  of  air,  or  the  sight  of  brilliant 
bodies  gave  him  pnin.  lie  felt  disposed  to  run  and  bite; 
not  men,  but  nniiiinls  and  inanimate  bodies.  He  drank 
with  great  difTicully,  and  the  sight  of  water  was  distrrs. 
sing.  The  symptoms  recurred  every  five  minutes;  the 
pain  seemed  to  commence  in  the  finger  which  had  received 
the  infection.  He  determined  to  suff'ocate  himself  in  a 
vapor  bath;  for  this  purpose  he  caused  the  temperature 
to  be  raised  107^'-'  Fahrenheit,  when  he  was  soon  surpri- 
sed and  delighted  to  find  the  symptoms  disappear;  and  he 
left  the  bath  well.  Since  then  he  has  treated  more  than 
eighty  patients,  in  four  of  whom  the  symptoms  had  de- 
clared themselves,  and  in  no  case  has  he  failed,  except  in 
that  of  a  child,  seven  years  old,  who  died  in  the  bath. 
The  mode  of  treatment  he  recommends  is,  that  the  perron 
bitten  should  take  n  number  of  va})or  baths,  commonly  cal- 
led Russian,  and  should  induce  every  night,  a  violent  per- 
spiration, by  wrapping  himself  in  flannel,  and  covering  him- 
self with  a  feather  bed.  The  perspiration  is  formed  by 
drinking  freely  of  a  warm  decoction  of  sarsaparilla  tea. 
He  declares  that  he  is  so  well  convinced  of  the  efficacy  of 
this  treatment,  that  he  will  sulfer  himself  to  be  innocu- 
lated  with  the  disease. 

The  only  peculiarity  of  the  Russian  bath  is,  that  the 
vapor  in  formed  by  pouring  water  on  heated  stones. 

The  readeif  who  is  desirous  of  more  extended  informa- 
tior>  on  the  subject  of  bathing,  its  history,  general  useful- 
ness, and  in  reference  to  its  curative  powers,  is  referred  to 
the  work  of  John  Bell,  M.  D.  "  on  baths  and   mineral 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRIN08.  Ql 


The  Douclif!  limh. 


waters,"  a  work  tbnt  Rhoiild  bo  in  Ihe  hniuls  of  every  phy- 
flic.an,  in  every  library,  nnd  every  bathing  hoiiBc.  Tbe 
nutbor  nck.iowledorcs  his  indebtedness  to  tli'it  work  for  no 
inconsiderable  portion  r,f  ibis  compilation  ,.  .  the  subject 
of  mineral  waters  and  bolbing. 


THE    DOUCHE    BATH. 


This  la  formed  from  one  or  morn  spouts  that  throw  a 
jot  of  wafer  on  the  body,  or  on  a  particular  part  of  it. 
It  may  be  constructed  so  as  to  be  descending,  oblique, 
vertical,  or  ascending. 

The  Douche  bath  is  considered  most  effectual  at  100<? 
Fahrenheit,  or  a  little  rising.  It  may  be  of  cold,  warm, 
or  hot  water;  or  of  vapor. 

Hot  jot  baths  are  had  recourse  to  in  diseases  of  an  asth- 
mic  nature,  and  which  from  long  standing  are  known  by 
the  name  of  chronic.  The  duration  of  the  jet  may  be 
from  a  quarter  to  half  an  hour  daily. 

In  delirium  tremens,  tumefactions  of  the  viscera,  with- 
out fever;  paralysis;  cholics;  chlorosis;  swellings  of  the 
joints,  without  redness  or  pain,  whether  rheumatic,  gotaty, 
or  scrofulous  after  the  subsidence  of  fever,  and  clearing  of 
the  digestive  pnRsnge.  These  are  but  a  small  portion  of 
the  diseases  that  have  been  beneficially  acted  upon  by  the 
use  of  this  remedy. 


I  I 


"i 


I 


K 


82 


JAUNT    TO    SARATOr.A    SPRTNOS. 


IHsniHCs  Jur  w  liirli  llie  Snniloiifii  wiiUth  lire  rcoonimcmlcd. 


Al)lution,  or  aponginp,  is  n  mild  nppllcntion  of  a  fluid. 
As  it  ndmifs  of  locnl  use,  it  is  often  more  suitnble  than 
any  other  method.  Wet  rlotiis  applied  to  the  skin  act  in 
the  eaine  way  as  sponging.  Kilher  cold  or  wnrin  liquids 
niay  be  used. 

Allusion,  or  the  shower  hath,  when  cold,  gives  a 
greater  shoek  than  the  bath,  but  there  is  more  inequal- 
ity in  its  employment. 


\ 


DISEASES    FOR    WHICH    THE    SARATOGA    WATERS 
ARE    RECOMMENDED. 


"  Tlirro  is  an  ncliinii;  void  Id  ev'ry  hciirt, 
Till-  sad  allciidiint  of  inan's  weary  life  — 
For  all  diseases  else,  kind  iiaturo  gives 
Some  healiiijr  dranglu.     For  this  Iherc's  none  — 
Farlh  yields  no  halm  for  tliis. " 

There  arc  a  great  variety  of  diseases  in  which  these 
waters  act  most  beneficially,  and  very  often  perfectly 
cure;  yet  so  much  depends  upon  tie  stage  of  the  disease, 
that  it  is  unsafe  to  give  a  wholesale  recommendation.  In 
some  diseases  they  are  useful  in  the  incipient  stages,  and 
injurious  when  the  same  diseases  are  further  advanced. 
In  other  eases  it  is  the  reverse  of  this.  For  these  reasons 
it  is  difficult  to  enumerate  fully  all  the  diseases  for  which 
the  waters  may  be  used,  as  it  might  be  the  means  of  mis- 
leading some  who  are  too  much  disposed  to  confide  in 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    RPIIINOS. 


88 


The  Hprlnjcs  iipidicuhli*  to  piirticul'ir  <liH«iM 


K'H. 


what  they  Hnd  pubhshud;  or  to  depend  too  much  on  their 
own  diecretion.  It  niny  ngnin  be  repeated,  to  use  the  waters 
wiih  entcly,  and  inost  advanlairtously,  alwnys  take  the  ad- 
'  vice  of  a  practical  pliysician. 

Visitors  hav«j  been  warned  against  using  them  in  pul- 
monary affections,  and  diHcanrn  of  the  lungs;  and  yei  this 
needs  L^nie  qualification.  Tlic  ca«(;  ran  o/dy  be  decided 
by  the  medical  adviser.  In  o|)hthnhiiia,  cr  inflammation 
of  the  eye?,  they  have  been  used  to  great  advantnge. 

ln>:  )p8y,  thcyaro  declared  to  be  inadniifesibic.  Dyn- 
pcpsia,  both  admissible  and  inadmissible. 

in  scrofula,  I  hey  arc  highly  connneudcd.     The  Spring 
containing   the   most   Iodine   i^hould   be   used— it  is  the 
Walton. 
in  paralysis,  they  are  very  useful. 
In  rheumatism,    much  benefit  is  derived  from   them. 
Tlwy  should  be   used  intciiially,  and  accompanied  exter- 
nally at  the  same  time  wilh  tiie  warm  balli.     The  tiulpbu- 
rous  waters  are    )  l)e  preferred  for  (.his  disease. 
in  bilious)  diseaees,  if  not  of  lung  standing. 
in  nephritic  comidaints,  and  calculu»,  they  have  been 
very  successfully  used. 
In  ulcerous  sore?,  and  cutaneous  eruptions. 
Those  Spr.  igs  that  are  most  acidulous  arc   more  par- 
ticularly recommended  for  fevers  of  a  typhoid  type,  nau- 
sea, vomiting,  and   relaxation,  and  want  of  tone  of  tlie 
stomach.     Such  are  the  Walton  or  Iodine,  the  Hamil- 
ton, the  Congress,  the  Monroe  and  the  High  Hock,  and 
some  others. 

Those  waters  that  are  most  f^trollgly  impregnated  with 
iron,  arc  useful  as  tonics;  they  stimulate  and  increase  the 


I 


84 


JAUNT   TO   SARATOGA   SPRINGS. 


It  :H: 


'    T 


The  Sprin|t;s  applicnble  to  ceriain  diseuses. 

circulation.  In  chlorosis,  fliior  nlbus,  amcnorrhoea,  nervous 
diseases,  and  in  general  debility  and  derangement  of  the 
whole  system,  they  arc  very  useful.  Of  such  is  the 
Congress;  the  Sans  Souci,  at  Ballston;  the  High  Rock, 
the  Monroe,  the  iJamilton,  and  the  Flat  Rock. 

The  Springs  in  which  the  saline  qualities  predominate, 
are  used  to  keep  the  body  gently  open,  without  severe 
purging,  by  means  of  which  the  appetite  and  strength  is 
increased.  Such  is  the  Congress,  the  Monroe,  the  Wash- 
ington, the  Hamilton,  "id  Putnam's  Congress. 

The  sulphurous  are  valuable  in  glandular  swellings, 
chronic  rheumatism,  gout,  scurvy,  and  cutaneous  dis- 
eases generally.  Such  is  one  of  the  Monroe  Springs, 
and  the  Sulphur  Spring  on  the  east  side  of  Saratoga  lake; 
and  all  the  bath  houses  at  Saratoga  are  provided  with 
Bulphurous  water  for  the  purposes  of  bathing.* 

*  For  many  matters  relative  to  the  analysis  of  the  Saratoga  and 
Ballston  waters,  and  their  medical  use  and  properties,  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  excellent  work  of  Doct.  Steel,  published  in  1S38. 


si 

3 
05 


2g 

0    0 

1005.7 
1004.6 

to  to 

WW 


tow 


00  VI 
WW 

w 

<l  w 

43.407 
41.51 

5.95 
3.71 

>fi»  w 

too 

•         • 

to 


I  i 


^73 

ra  P* 

<  f? 

w 

11 

> 

M 

r 

H 

3 

O 

05 

^ 

32g 

0    0 


oo 

o  o 

•        • 


to  to 

WW 


pw 
coco 

CO 


<!C0 


•  • 

COOT 

•  • 

h-oi 


^  CO 

•         • 


^-  Monroe.    S  ? .    .   "T    =    S 
Br    Springs      ^  =  ;;: 


fe 


O 

o 

bo 
01 


to  to 

CO  CO 


00  GO 


to 
o 


•  « 

to 


'0» 

CI 

CD 


•  • 

to 


en 

C3 


CO 

t4H 


to 

CI 


coco 
CO  o 
o  »u 


lU  en 


"J     03 


o 

w 

» 

at 
A 


00 

o 


en 

0 


en  en 

00 
0  o 


Temperature. 


o 
o 


o 
o 


o  o 

vj  VI 


cn      ec  00 


^'ppcific  gra- 
vity. 


^o^o 

CO  CO 


0^ 

00 

CD 


to 

^— 

"tO"^ 

vl 


to  to  to -.  Quaiilitv  aim- 

00  CO  CO  -  I      1  1  ' 

'oototo" 

00  CSCr.) 

OA  -^1  r~ 

•  •  • 

on 


Muriate  Soda. 


CO 

CO 


CO  CO  O  JO 

on  en  ^ 

Cl  o^ 


Hydriodate  of 


Hoda. 


on  }o 
vl  4a. 

CO 


*■"     -"-v     "^^ 
^•'      ^^J     •S*.-' 

00  00  to 

•  •  • 

8    ^ 


Carbonate  of 
Litiic. 


on 


o«  o»  en  CO 


CO 


o  en  ^o 
vl  00  en 

en 


4i>  Ci 

?  ;tO 
ben 

vJO 


CO 
on 

to 


CO  »6>.  ^ 
on  p  p 

Vl^Kj   o 

nc'H-co 
00 


C!).-I)onate  of 
Iron. 


C.-irbonate  of 
Mairiiesia. 


to 

•        • 
vl  ^ 

00 


to         »-»Va" 

vl  CO  on  C5 


O 
CO 


^  »U.  on 
X 


Carl)onatc  of 
fcjoda. 


05 


t—  to  t— 

•        •        • 

on  o  on 
on 


U'Jdine. 
Silix. 


OD  00 

en  b 


CO 


C5  00 
on 


)U 


10  to^o-■ 
*-'  vj  cfi3 

.^^o^o2. 

•        •        •       •— 

o !:■ 

vt  hU  p5 

on  bo  % 


Cnrhonic  acid 


At*  losphcric 
au". 


g-o 


I 


r  V  9, 


I'  'I 


86  JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 

Medicinal  Waters  of  Europe.         ^________ 

In  addition  to  the  preceding,  the  Pavilion  Fountain,  at 

Saratoga  contains  the  following: 

Graina. 

Chloride  Sodium, 226.58 

Oxide  Iron, '     •     •         '*•!" 

Iodine  of  Sodium, 2.75 

.  Bromide  of  Potaseium, 2.75 

Alumina, '^«^* 

The  bottling  and  use  of  the  waters  at  a  distance  from 
the  Springe,  are  matters  of  importance  to  those  who  usg 
them.  The  residents  of  Saratoga  say  that  none  of  the 
^-aters  bottle  so  well  as  the  Congress  and  Iodine  Springs. 
They  leave  no  ecdimcut,  but  when  drawn  they  are  fine 
and  pure.  The  others  often  cast  a  red  sediment,  and 
when  uncorked,  they  are  found  to  have  a  dull  and  milky 
appearance.  In  the  use  of  bottled  water,  the  same  salu- 
tary effects  must  not  in  nil  cases  be  expected  from  them, 
as  if  used  at  the  Fountains,  with  all  the  accompaniments 
of  new  scenery,  change  of  air,  gay  company,  music,  and 
the  thousand  other  excitements  of  travel. 

Of  the  medicinal  wnicrs  of  Europe,  those  under  the  de- 
nomination of  "  Spa  waters,"  are  the  most  celebrated.  Of 
this  kind  are  Pyrmcnt,  in  Westphalia;  Forges  and  Passy, 
in  France;  and  Tunbridge  and  Brighton,  in  England. 
But  the  most  noted  arn  those  of  Spa,  a  small  town  in  the 
mountainous  district  of  Belgium,  which  forms  a  part  of 
the  fount  of  Ardennes,  the  noted  scene  of  one  of  Shaks- 
peare's  plays.  The  Pouhon  Spring  water  at  this  place, 
was  analysed  by  Doct.  Jones,  in  181G.  The  following 
result  shows  that  the  Saratoga  waters  arc  much  more 
richly  charged  both  with  gas  and  mineral  properties.— 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS.  87 

The  village  of  Saratoga. 

Temperature,   50°;   one   gallon  of  water,  or  231   cubic 

inches,  produced 

Grains. 

Sulphate  of  Soda, 99 

Carbonate  of  Soda,     .     .     , 2.25 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia, 1.80 

Silix, 2.26 

Loss, 2.94 

Muriate  of  Soda, 1.16 

Carbonate  of  Lime, 9.87 

Oxide  of  Iron, 5.24 

Alumina, 20 

Carbonic  acid  gas,  26^  inches;  less  by  68  cubic  inches 

to  the  gallon  than  some  of  the  Saratoga  Springs. 


THE    VILLAGE    OP    SARATOGA. 


"  Green  arching  bouglig  hung  over  where  I  sat, 
And  through  the  paitinj^  leaves,  dazzling  and  beautiful. 
The  flunbeains  pour'd  rich  streams  of  golden  light." 


The  village  of  Saratoga,  is  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
town  of  Saratoga,  in  the  county  of  the  same  name.  It 
is  laid  out  upon  a  plain  broken  only  by  the  ravine  of  the 


I 


;^s^*>*s 


88 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


I'.. 


FiXpeiiditure  of  visitors  the  source  of  wealth. 

Springe,  through  which  there  courses  a  small  fresh  water 
brook.  The  direction  ol"  this  rivulet  through  the  village 
is  northern;  from  the  upper  end  of  the  village  it  passes 
off  in  an  eastern  direction,  first  emptying  into  Owl  creek, 
and  nfterwards  into  Saratoga  Lake.  Although  this  brook 
passes  directly  through  the  low  ground  from  whence  all 
the  principal  medical  Springs  issue,  and  the  waters  of 
which  mingle  more  or  less  with  it,  yet  to  the  taste  it  ap- 
pears not  to  be  impregnated  with  any  of  their  mineral 
qualities.  The  villngc  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the 
legislature,  in  April,  in  1826.  It  is  for  its  situation, 
iguitably  laid  out;  a  part  is  compactly  built,  and  many 
handsome  dwellings  and  seats  are  observed  around;  some 
commanding  fine  views,  and  others  almost  hid  from  eight 
in  groves  of  evergreens. 

As  a  place  of  business,  Saratoga  has  nothing  to  recom- 
mend it  but  its  Springs  —  from  these  its  wealth  and  capital 
is  derived;  and  the  expenditures  of  strangers  constitutes 
to  the  business  men  of  the  place  their  only  income  and 
dependance. 

The  trustees  and  inhabitants  of  the  village  are  entitled 
to  much  credit  for  th^  order  and  cleanliness  of  the  streets, 
for  the  shade  trees  that  they  have  planted,  and  for  the 
care  and  neatness  in  which  the  fine  groves  are  kept,  for 
which  the  place  is  distinguished. 

Saratoga  being  a  healthy,  as  well  as  a  pleasant  and 
fashionable  place,  many  gentlemen  of  wealth  and  dignity, 
have  chosen  it  as  their  residence. 

The  act  by  which  the  village  is  incorporated  gives  to 
the  trustees  power,  by  the  written  consent  of  the  owner 
of  iixB  land  on   vhich  any  medicinal  or  mineral  Springs 


JAUNT   TO   SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


80 


!»nri»toga  l;rfore  it  was  aoltlpi 


ore  situated,  to  make  erections  about  such  Si)rings,  for 
the  accommodation  oflbose  who  visit  the  Spritig^f,  for  tho 
purpose  of  drinking  or  olherwJee  using  the  watora;  and  it 
is  their  duty  to  see  that  the  passage  is  kept  open  to  and 
from  the  Springs,  and  to  appoint  proper  persons  to  atlcnd 
the  Springs  to  draw  the  water  for  mich  as  wish  to  drink, 
or  moke  use  of  them,  without  demanding  any  compensa- 
tion. 

At  an  early  day,  the  present  site  of  Saratoga  was  most 
forbidding,  wiki  and  uninteresting;  it  was  more  congenial 
for  the  abode  of  bears,  wolves,  and  other  ferocioun  beasts 
of  the  forest,  than  for  man.  Of  these  great  numbers  re- 
sorted about  the  marsh,  the  waters  being  very  agreeable 
to  them. 

The  ravine  in  which  the  Springs  are  situated,  was  an 
almost  impassable  morass;  where  it  was  not  filled  with 
fallen  trees,  rubbish  and  brush  wood,  black  and  noxious 
mire  holes  were  seen,  on  which  it  was  dangerous  to  ven- 
ture. Even  the  air  was  impregnated  with  a  foul  stench 
which  arose  from  the  mareh,  and  sickness,  especially  fevers 
and  chills,  preyed  severely  for  many  years  upon  the  first 
fictdera.  What  a  change  has  the  labor  of  man  produced? 
Not  only  now  are  there  beautiAil  fields,  shady  groves, 
attractive  gardens,  elegant  and  comfortable  dwellings' 
but  the  veiy  air,  from  being  noxious  and  insalubrious,  has 
become  pure  and  healthy.  There  arc  very  few  places 
more  thriving,  or  that  are  faster  advancing  in  business 
and  improvements,  than  Saratoga. 
8^ 


i    ii 


I 


90 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


CliHractcr  of  Public  Houses. 


f 


PUBLIC    HOUSES. 

♦•  A  Yankee  can  keep  a  tavern."  —  Foreign  Traveller. 

The  clicimctor  of  sninc  of  the  public  houses  at  the  Springs 
is  of  the  very  first  order,  and  all  nre  respectable.  Some  are 
particularly  the  resort  of  stntcamen,  of  ollice  holders  and 
politicians;  and  the  great,  and  would  be  great.  With 
these  are  mingh  d  gentlemen  of  the  turf,  connoisseurs  of 
the  odd  Irick,  and  the  amateurs  of  poker.  With  these 
too  will  be  found  the  exdiirives  of  society,  whether  Pres- 
l)ytcrian,  Ilomani.il,  or  Churchman;  the  fashionable  lady, 
and  hello  of  high  ^jretensions. 

In  another  house  will  be  observe<l  Clergymen,  and  their 
families,  respectable  professional  gentlemen,  and  persons 
and  characters  who^e  demeanor,  though  sober  and  retiring, 
are  yet  affable  and  genteel. 

The  substantial  farmer  and  tradceman,  are  often  observ- 
ed at  another  house.  It  is  thus  that  people  while  at  Sar- 
atoga fall  into  a  particular  class;  not  one  formed  by  any 
arbitrary  rule,  but  as  they  arc  pleased  to  rank  themselves 
with  each  other  at  the  different  hotels. 

It  would  be  a  pleasure  to  enlighten  strangers  on  this 
subject,  but  the  task  is  so  invidious  that  it  must  be  omit- 
ted. The  advertisements  of  the  keepers  of  the  hotels 
must  in  this  respect  lie  regarded.  The  price  of  board  at 
Saratoga  is  mentioned  at  p«ge  16.  Rooms  and  tenements 
furnished  and  unfurnished,  for  the  use  of  families,  may  be 
obtained  for  rent. 

On  the  whole,  strangers  can  meet  with  every  desirable 
accommodation,  at  the  public  houses,  private  boarding- 
houses,  at  the  rcstiuateurs,  or  in  their  own  hired  apartmenta. 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS* 


Aiiiui>eiuent8. 


91 


m 


LBR. 

Springs 
orne  are 
iurs  and 
With 
seurs  of 
th  these 
er  Pres- 
jle  lady, 

md  their 

persons 

retiring, 

1  observ- 
at  Sar- 
by  any 

emselves 

I  on  this 
be  omit- 
le  hotels 
board  at 
snements 
,  may  be 

desirable 
joarding- 
irtments. 


AMUSEMENTS. 

*'  I^'ig.  joyous  cords !  —  ring  out  again  ! 
A  swifter  still  and  a  wilder  strain  ! 
And  bring  forth  wreaths  !  —  wc  will  banish  all 
Save  the  pure  in  heart  from  the  festive  hall !  — 
On,  through  the  maze  of  the  fleet  dance,  on  !" 

For  a  place  so  retired,  the  amusements  arc  various,  and 
are  so  ordered  as  to  suit  the  taste  of  those  who  are  to  par- 
take of  them.  Visitors  from  the  cities  find  enough  of 
green  shades,  pleasant  rides,  pure  nir,  and  fine  country 
eating,  to  make  the  place  agreeable;  and  those  who  are 
from  the  country,  see  enough  of  new  things,  odd  charac- 
ters, and  fine  fashions,  to  make  thc^r  time  pass  pleasantly; 

"  And  vvitii  sweet  novelty  the  soul  detain." 

The  circular  railroad  is  a  very  pretty  thing.  It  is  at 
the  southern  extremity  of  the  village,  on  a  beautiful  ter- 
race, completely  shaded  with  ever  green  trees;  and  from 
the  spot  is  afforded  to  the  spectator  a  charming  sylvan 
prospect.  The  road  is  in  circumference  the  eighth  of  a 
niile;  it  has  two  tracks  on  which  two  light  airy  cars  re- 
volve in  opposite  directions.  The  cars  resemble  the  light 
body  of  a  gig,  and  are  provided  with  a  seat  for  a  lady  and 
a  gentleman.  With  much  ease  the  gentleman  gives 
power  to  the  movement,  and  when  both  cars  are  flying 
round  with  the  velocity  of  the  wind,  and  passing  each 
other  as  feathered  arrows,  a  thousand  fashionable  prome- 
naders,  chatting  and   laughing,  fill  up  Uie  ground;  the 


H  i 


I 


92 


JAUNT   TO    SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


ii, 


wM 


C'oveiit  Gnnicn—  CJniiihlirig. 


scorio  is  truly  joyous  and  animating.  All  who  visit  the 
Springs  can  partake  in  this  amusement,  as  it  is  exhilara- 
ting, and  a  diversion  in  every  respect  unobjectionable. 

The  cost  of  this  railroad  was  eleven  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars;  and  the  charge  for  riding  three  times  round,  is 
twelve  and  half  cents. 

Next  to  the  circular  railroad,  are  the  public  gardens. 
The  Recreative  garden  has  three  bowling-alleys,  one  of 
which  is  exclusively  for  the  use  of  ladies. 

Covent  garden,  besides  rustic  huts,  summer  houses, 
and  shady  bowers,  has  a  plalform  of  flying  horses.  These 
with  their  riders,  arc  whirled  around  with  great  rapidity. 

There  are  in  the  village  altogether,  thirteen  bowling- 
alleys,  several  billiard  tables,  and  m  the  season  of  visiting, 
all  the  apparatus  and  paraphanalia  of  gambling  and  dissi- 
pation. Such  are  the  accompaniments  of  the  throng  that 
find  their  way  to  the  Springs  in  the  summer.  They  are 
not  acknowledged  as  a  part  of  the  regular  inhabitants  of 
the  place.  The  citizens  of  Saratoga  are  a  steady,  quiet 
people,  and  no  way  inclined  to  participate  in  the  follies 
and  dissipation  which  is  annually  poured  in  upon  them. 

Another  great  source  of  amusement  is  :.iding.  Not  less 
than  thirty  five  thousand  dollars  worth  of  livery  property 
is  owned  at  the  Springs,  for  the  use  of  strangers,  and 
which  to  the  owners  produce  a  handsome  income.  Coach- 
es, barouches,  curricles  and  gigs,  are  used.  Of  late  years 
the  fashion  of  riding  on  horseback,  both  by  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  has  been  revived,  and  is  much  followed  at  the 
Springs. 

Among  the  many  places  to  which  visitors  ride,  are  the 
following: 


JAUNT  TO   SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


93 


litilld  and  Assemblies. 


Barhyt'a  fish  pondj  two  milea  eciU  It  producea  trout, 
and  affords  fine  amusement  to  anglers.  Ho  charges  for 
the  privilege  of  fishing,  aud  requires  that  what  is  caught 
shall  be  cooked  on  his  premises. 

The  Lake  House,  on  Saratoga  Lake,  4  miles;  where 
a  game  dinner,  consisting  of  fish,  and  wild  game,  is  fur- 
nished  to  gourmands,  for  |2.  The  lake  is  9  miles  long, 
and  3  wide. 

Bemis's  Heights,  and  other  memorable  scenes  of  the 
revolution  around  the  eventful  battle  grounds  of  ^Saratoga, 
are  still  much  resorted  to. 

To  Glen's  Falls,  about  20  miles.  To  Lake  George,  28 
miles.     To  these  places  stages  go  daily. 

Niskayuna,  the  Shaker  settlement,  on  the  Mohawk 
river,  is  16  miles. 

Schuylersville,  where  Burgoyne  laid  down  his  arms, 
is  12  miles. 

Besides  riding,  promenading  round  the  village,  visiting 
the  Springs  and  gardens,  there  is  got  up,  when  there  is 
much  company,  balls,  assemblies  and  cotillion  parties. 
These  are  held  at  some  of  the  highest  public  houses. 
Caive,  ice  creams,  frui1»,  wines,  and  other  refreshments 
are  furnished.  The  tickets  of  admission  cost  from  ^1,50 
to  $2.  * 

A  more  costly,  and  of  course  more  fashionable  order  of 
assemblies,  are  sometimes  held,  called  Champagne  balls. 
Tickets  to  these  are  usually  $5. 

At  two  of  the  principal  public  houses  a  band  of  music 
is  employed.  The  band  performs  alternately  at  each 
house  at  dinner  and  tea. 

There  are  also  at  tho  Springs  two  public  libraries  and 
reading  rooms;  and  two  weekly  newspapers. 


*    « 


I 


II 


II 


ill; . !; 

m 


94 


JAUNT  TO  SARATOGA   SPRIKOS. 


Cliurcliea. 


CHURCHES, 

There  is  a  Presbyterian  church,  a  Baptist,  and  a  small 
Episcopal  Chapel,  a  Methodist  chapel,  and  a  Roman 
Catholic  church  is  now  building. 

The  middle  scats  of  the  Presbyterian  church   are  all 

reserved  for  the  I'.se  of  strangers;  at  the  Baptist  Church 

they  are  respectfully  received,  and  the  Episcopal  chapel, 

and  Methodist,  are  free.     These  last  denominations  are 

^  also  building  new  churches. 


TABL 


'ill 


iiii 


ill 


PART  III. 


THE   FALLS   OF    NIAGARA, 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THIS 

WONDER    OF    NATURE, 

OF  THE 

WHIRLPOOL,     ISLANDS, 

A  JAUNT  TO  CANADA, 

TABLE    ROCK -BROCK'S    MONUMENT,    &c. 


r*w.3 


'■ 


I 


■■Js^^'s,W.'f^    „ 


? 


1^: 


U. 


THE    ARRANGEMENT. 


wf 


The  colloquial  form  has,  in  some  places  been  adopted, 
in  affording  directions  and  information  to  travellers.  The 
observations  of  the  guide,  and  the  remarks  of  the  visitors, 
have  been  in  some  places  transcribed.  In  this  manner, 
the  information  which  has  been  garnered  np  for  years,  is 
imparted  to  strangers  in  its  appropriate  place. 

The  sketches  are  made  in  a  tour  round  the  Falls,  and 
vicinity;  and  is  divided  into  four  Jaunts. 

The  First  Jaunt  is  to  the  Falls  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  or,  as  they  are  commonly  called,  the  American 
Falls.  It  may  be  made,  from  the  hotels,  in  half  an  hour; 
but  the  feelings  of  those  M'ho  go,  will  determine  the  pe-' 
riod  of  their  stay.  Some  have  thought  half  a  day  a  short 
time  to  spend  in  viewing  the  cataract  from  that  position, 
and  the  other  objects  to  which  their  attention  is  drawn. 

The  Second  Jaunt  is  to  the  Islands.  Bath,  Iris  or 
Goat,  and  the  other  little  adjoining  Islands  that  are  ac 
cessible.  It  may  be  made  in  two  hours.  Many  persons 
spend  a  day,  and  repeat  the  visit  frequently,  asserting, 
that  the  interest  excited  increases  the  oftener  the  scene  is 

held. 


uc 


9 


ill'.  1 


98 


JAUNT   TO    TnE    FALLS. 


The  Arr;iiii:c!iieiU. 


The  Third  Jaunt  is  to  the  Whirlpool.  It  requires 
three  hours;  and,  if  extended  to  the  Devil's  Hole,  Indian 
Village,  nnd  old  Fori  Ningnra,  a  day  or  more  will  be  plea- 
santly spent  in  the  excursion. 

The  Fourth  Jaunt  is  to  Canadn.  This,  like  the  visit 
to  the  Falls,  may  be  accomplished  in  less  than  an  hour; 
but  it  would  be  superficial.  Very  few  arc  satisfied  with 
such  a  slight  peep  into  her  Majesty's  dominions.  They 
like  to  visit  Table  Rock,  and  take  a  look  below,  through 
the  mist  and  under  the  sheet  of  falling  water. 

In  speaking  of  the  time  to  be  consumed  in  looking  at 
and  around  the  greatest  cataract  in  the  world,  reference 
is  had  to  those  who  travel  with  railroad  speed,  and  such 
are  travellers  in  general,  in  these  days;  and  not  to  those 
who  have  leisure.  To  such  as  have  time  and  opportunity, 
no  period  can  be  fixed;  all  depends  on  their  own  impres- 
sions. If  they  are  uncxcited  and  uninterested,  their  stay 
will  be  short;  they  will  cast  a  dull  and  unimpassloned 
look  over  the  scene,  and  hurry  away.  Others  who  have 
tcit  diflercntly,  have  remained  weeks  and  months  at  the 
Fallp,  still  extolling  them,  and  spending  their  time  much 
to  their  eatisfuction. 


A  JAUNT 


TO 


THE  FALLS  OF  NIAGARA, 


ON  TjHE 


AMERICAN   SIDE. 


TnE  TRAVELLERS. 


A  pnrty  from  q  diptnnt  eity  ore  on  o  tour  of  plcasuro 
to  the  Fallc.  There  arc  three  principal  routes  on  the 
Amcricnn  eide  that  lead  to  this  celebrated  plncc. 

One  from  the  upper  lakcF,  the  south  nnd  the  cast, 
through  the  city  of  Huflalo,  from  thence  by  railroad  to 
the  place  of  destination: 

One  from  Canada,  and  the  lower  lakes,  via  Lewiston, 
and  from  thence  alto,  by  railroad: 

The  third,  from  the  east,  by  the  Erio  canal,  railroads, 
etages  and  steamboata,  to  the  city  of  Rochester,  end 
through  the  vllage  of  Lockport,  and  from  thence  by  rail- 
road  to  the  Falls. 

The  travellers  that  arc  the  dramatis  pcrson<E  of  this 
J" — ;  — c  BCflu)a  in  vtie  xjOCiiport  cuiu  x^igagufa  Falls  roil* 


L,.'  1 


>    I 


102 


JAUNT   TO    THE    FALLS. 


First  si i,')it. 


road  cars.     They  have  nnivcd  withhi  two  miles  of  tho 
object  of  their  visit,  and  the  exclamation  is  heard  —  *'  the 
Falls  !    the  Falls  !"      An    imposing   scene  has,  indeed, 
broke   upon  them,   and  a  general    move    takes   place  to 
catch  a  glimpse  of  the  mighty  calnract.     Those  seated  at 
the  right  side  of  the  cars  have  a  full  and  direct  view  in 
front,   and  of  the  Niagara  river,   which,    by  their  side, 
flows  far  beneath.     On  the  very  verge  of  its  banks,  at  a 
dizzy  height,  they  are  whirling  at  the  rapid  rate  of  eigh- 
teen miles  an  hour.     On  looking  below,  some  passengers 
hold  their  breath  in  amazement;  others  have  been  known 
to  express  their  astonishment  by  a  low  protracted  whistle, 
until  the  supposed  danger  was  past. 

On  looking  at  the  object  before  her,  one  of  the  ladies 
exclaims—  '*  is  that  the  Falls?"     "  Yes,"  replies  a  pas- 


u 


eenger,   "  and  look  below,  there  is  the  far  iluned  Niagara 

river." 

Another  observes— ** after  so  long  a  period  I  behold 
this  place;"  and  one  — "what  a  distance  have  we  como 
to  feast  our  eyes  upon  this  scene!" 

**  A  great  mist  arises  from  the  water  — the  Falls  seem 
concealed  behind  a  cloud.     Is  it  always  so  7" 

**  Always,"  answered  a  person  familiar  with  the  scene, 
**  and  in  the  clear  cold  weather  of  winter,  the  mist  which 
arises  in  clouds,  appears  like  the  flame  and  smoke  of  somo 
great  conflagration,  or  as  of  a  burning  city.  At  such 
times  the  burning  of  Moscow  is  always  brought  to  my 
remembrance." 

In  a  few  minutes  after  the  Falls  are  first  beheld,  at  tho 
mineral  spring,  two  miles  from  the  cataract,  the  cars  have 
rolled  on;  have  passed  through  tho  Main  stroet  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  have  stopped  at  tho  upper  end. 


JAUNT   TO   TOR    PALLS. 


103 


Gener.'il  Renmrks  of  Travellers. 


The  cui-fi  of  the  pnasengcrs  ore  Bnlutod  with — "  pnesen- 

pnrH  ibr  tlic ,"  <<  tmvnllcrfl  (or  the  — ,"  "  <rcntle- 

\nrn,  plcaec  to  show  me  your  bagjjrnge   for  the ," 


(< 


—  ^>nggasc,"   "  for  the ,  Mndam?"  "  do  you  go 

to  the ,  Sir?"  nnd  all  the  jargon  and  noise  which  a 

full  array  of  the  runners  nnd  waiters  from  the  hotels  can 
utter. 

The  travellers  having  made  up  their  minds  i)efore  their 
arrival,  or  afterwards,  go  to  their  hotel,  enter  their  namoa, 
Eccure  their  rooniB,  and  breakfast,  dine  or  sup,  as  the  case 
may  be,  and  when  prepared  for  a  visit  to  the  Falls,  send 
for  a  Guide. 

The  aid  of  a  guide  is  indispensable,  to  point  out  the  dif- 
ferent views,  and  to  impart  a  full  knowledge  of  all  the 
localities. 

After  having  concluded  their  arrangements  they  start 
on  their  first  ramble.  Passing  in  a  western  direction  from 
the  hotel,  they  traverse  the  bank  of  the  river,  or  after 
leaving  a  narrow  street,  continue  along  on  the  rising 
ground,  until  they  enter  a  grove  of  trees;  emerging  from 
thence,  they  behold  the  Falls  at  once  before  them,  rolling 
majestically,  and  displaying  all  their  grandeur. 

**How  magnificent!" 

"  Truly,  the  half  has  not  been  told!" 

*' It  is  grand  —  it  is  dreadful!" 

"  They  are  terrible,  yet  beautiful!" 

*'  They  appear  small  at  a  distance,  and,  at  first  eight,  I 
was  disappointed.     They  exceed  my  expectations." 

"Never  have  I  beheld,  or  imagined,  any  thing  com- 
parable to  this. 

Such  arc  some  of  the  many  expreasiont)  which  break 


,iM  ' 


h  ^' 


II " 


Ml  1' 


M 


IHiiiil 
Pl 


i 


104 


JAUNT    TO    THE    PALLS. 


Description. 


from  travellers,  and  show  forth  tlioir  emotions;  they  are 
generally  those  of  admiral  ion,  min^dcd  with  pleasure; 
but  many  gaze  and  wonder  in  eilence. 


\ 


THE    FALLS   OP    NIAGARA. 

*'  Tremendous  torrent!  for  on  instant  hui«li 
Tlic  terrors  ot'lliy  voire,  and  cast  aside 
Those  wild  involving  niiadows  ;  lliat  my  eyc3 
May  see  the  fearful  beauty  of  thy  face." 


On  the  western  boundary  of  the  State  of  New- York, 
runs  the  Niagara  river,  in  a  northern  direction,  and  the 
centre  of  which  is  the  boundary  line  between  the  United 
States  and  the  dominions  of  Great  Britain.  The  Niagara 
is  the  outlet  of  the  va^t  chain  of  western  lakes,  beginning 
with  lake  Superior  and  its  hundred  tributary  streams,  and 
is  the  principal  inlet  of  lako  Ontario.  Niagara  fs  derived 
from  the  Indian,  and  was  called  by  them  Onyakarra, 
according  to  David  Cusich,  of  the  Tuscarora  tribe,  who 
published  a  pamphlet  in  1827. 

The  Falls  are  twenty-two  miles  from  lake  Erie,  and 
fourteen  from  lake  Ontario.  The  two  branches  of  the 
river  which  encompass  Grand  and  other  Islands,  unite  a 
mile  above  the  rapids;  and  it  is  there,  two  miles  in  width. 
As  it  advances  forward,  the  current  accelerates  in  its 
downward  course,  and  the  channel  contracts  in  width. 
From  tranquil  and  glossy,  a  slight  ripple  is  seen  to  move 
the  surface;  it  next  assumes  a  descendinff  and  cradle-like 


JAUNT   TO   THE    PALLS. 


105 


Volume  of  Wuler. 


movement;  the   waves   enlarge,  the    tops  roll  over  each 
other,   and  are  broken  into    whilc-caps  and  spray.     Tho 
whole  body   of  the  mighty  river  becomes  agitated,  as  if 
conscious  of  the  great  plunge  it  is  about  to  make.     The 
placid  stream  has  become  a  rushing  torrent,  broken  into 
cascades    and    sweeping    billows.     Its    own    momentum 
presses  it  forward  with    irrcsiatiblo  violence;  from  ridge 
to  ridge  it  bounds,  until  it  reaches  the  perpendicular  rock, 
and  there  it  sweeps  over,  and  falls  below.      The  water 
boils  up  from  beneath,  like  a  sea  of  white  foam;  the  Sjjrny 
rises  in  clouds  which  hang  dark  and  heavy  above,  or  are 
wafted  away  by  the   current  of  the  wind;  and  rainbows 
encircle  below  and  obove  this  most  wonderful  of  nature's 
workg. 

Iris  island  is  in  the  mid,3t  of  the  F«lls,  and  separates 
the  water  inii.  70  great  sheets.  A  smaller  ehect  is  struck 
off  by  ProspecL  island,  jiassing  between  that  and  Iris  isl- 
and. The  portion  between  the  islands  and  American 
shore  is  lees  than  the  main  channel  which  separates  Can- 
ada from  the  United  States,  and  passes  on  the  western 
side  of  Iris  island.  In  that  channel  is  borne  along  a 
volume  of  water  of  inmiense  magnitude,  the  drain  of 
more  thau  150,000  square  miles  of  surface  of  lakes  and 
rivers. 

How  sublime  the  object  that  is  presented  to  the  enrap- 
lured  beholder!  Such  a  body  of  congregated  v/ater  poured 
at  once  over  so  high  a  precipioe,  and  falling  perpendicu- 
larly into  tho  chasm  below,  whose  depth  it  is  not  possible 
for  man  to  fathom. 

The  rushing,  roaring  sound  which  is  emitted  by  the 
falling  water  — the  variety  of  colors  presented  to  the  eye; 


I 


KXJ 


JAUNT    TO    THE    PALLS. 


Fiiiiiilinrilv  willi  llioi  iioiso. 


the  Bplcndor  yot  Bublimily  of  the  prcne  —  nro  new  to  Iho 
Bpnnlator,  and  create  emotions  Imrd  In  he  iloscribed. 

The  Bounds  ore  Ihone  of  the  stormy  ocean  and  ovcr- 
wlichning  tempent;  1he-e  is  one  continued  roar,  yet  other 
Bounds  arise  filtul  and  varied. 

Some  ptn-fiojiH,  at  tJintR,  hnvc  fjincicd  noiscfi,  strange 
and  myfiterioiiB;  the  intonnlions  of  the  hnsa  drum  —  the 
Blow,  solemn  and  heavy  report  of  artillery —  the  swelling 
note  of  tho  trumpet  —  and  even  the  human  voice  in 
agony,  has  been  heard  by  many  imaginative  enthusiasts. 
But  the  similarity  of  the  sounds  to  the  hum  drum,  and  to 
artillery  are  so  near,  at  times,  that  persons  have  been  re- 
peatedly deceived. 

It  requires  a  long  residencG  to  become  familiar  to,  and 
regardless  of  the  noise.  To  some  it  creates  unpleasant 
sensations,  hut  generally  they  arc  those  of  a  contrary 
character.  To  those  who  are  residents,  the  quietude 
which  seems  to  prevail  when  they  visit  any  of  the  adja- 
cent villages,  makes  it  appear  to  them  like  the  stillness 
of  Sunday. 

Strangers  who  remain  over  night,  though  the  sound  of 
the    Falls  is  in  their  ears  when  they  retire  to  rest,  yet 
when  they  happen  to  awake   from   their   slumbers,   fre- 
quently fancy  themselves  in  the  midst  of  a   tempest;  the 
house  trembles,  the  windows  and  doors  clatter,  the  wind 
rushes  and  whistles  round,  the  rain  pours;  and  amid  all, 
they   hear  the  unceasing  sound   of  the   cataract.     They 
rise  to  look  out  upon  the  raging  storm;    and  when  they 
draw   the  curiam,  or  throw  up  the  windows,  they  per- 
ceive that  the  stars  are  shining  sweetly,  and  not  a  zephyr 
disturbs  the  pendant  leaves. 


JAUNT   TO    THE    PALLS. 


107 


Distance  wliich  the  Falls  nrc  heard. 


'  to  tho 

* 

d  over- 
it  other 

Rtrnngo 
n  —  tho 
^veiling 
I'oice  in 
lusinstp. 
,  and  to 
been  rc- 

to,  nnd 
pleasant 
contrary 
quietude 
he  adja- 

Btillness 

sound  of 
rest,  yet 
ers,  frc- 
pest;  the 
the  wind 
amid  all, 
t.  They 
hen  they 
they  per- 
;  a  zephyr 


In  heavy  weather  the  sound  ie  louder,  and  In  heard 
farther;  and  to  those  who  live  at  a  distance,  though 
within  hearing  of  the  Falls,  they  are  an  unfailing  baro- 
meter. After  a  pleasant  turn  "f  weather,  during  which 
the  sound  has  just  bce.i  perceptible,  often  gradually, 
nnd  sometimes  suddenly,  the  increased  roar  of  the  cataract 
comes  upon  the  ear.  A  change  of  weather  immediately 
takes  place,  and  is  often  followed  by  a  storm. 

In  some  directions  the  roar  of  the  Falls  is  not  usually 
heard  over  six  or  seven  miles;  along  the  course  of  the 
river  they  are  constantly  perceptible  for  about  fourteen 
miles;  they  have  been  occasionally  heard  at  the  distance 
of  thirty  miles;  and  in  one  instance  nn  individual  asserts 
to  have  heard  them  at  the  city  of  Toronto,  in  Canada, 
distant  forty-four  miles. 

The  concussion  of  the  falling  waters  jar  the  adjoining 
shores,  and  the  houses  tremble  in  concert  with  the  un- 
ceasing shock. 

This  may  be  questioned  by  those  who  have  only  spent 
an  hour  or  two  at  the  Falls,  in  the  clear,  serene,  and  bland 
weather  of  summer;  but  those  who  have  remained  there 
longer  will  certify  to  the  fact.  If  a  door  is  left  ajar  it 
vibrates,  if  a  window  is  loose  it  clatters;  and  even  sitting 
quietly  at  their  fire-sides,  the  inhabitants  will,  at  times, 
perceive  a  tremulous  motion,  which  they  can  trace  to 
the  Falls.  There  ia  much  difierence  in  hearing  the  Falls; 
at  a  short  distance  from  them  the  noise  is  not  unpleasant, 
but  close  to  the  sheets  of  water,  to  many  persons  it  ia 
almost  overwhelming.  It  is  believed  by  many  abroad, 
that  persons  long  resident  at  tho  Falls  become  hard  of 
hearing.     That  this  is  generally  eo,  cax-iaot  be  positively 


108 


JAUNT   TO   THE    FALLB. 


IG 


I 


MM 


ijHinirics  imsj\\»'rr»i|. 


oBflertcd.  A  lady  of  Lovviston,  who  scvernl  years  eiiice 
visited  Uio  Falls,  asserlB,  Hint  to  her  the  noise  wqs  so 
inteiiBenH  to  deprive  her  of  hearing  in  one  car;  and  (hough 
ninny  years  have  since  pnHHcd,  she  has  not  recovtjcd  from 
the  deafncBrf  v/ith  which  she  was  then  struck.  And  yet 
very  many  visitors  express  thenisolvea  greatly  diHn[)point- 
ednsto  the  noise  of  the  Fnll.i;  they  expected  to  hear  it 
henvier  and  louder.  Nothinjr  hut  hursting  boilers,  ronring 
cannon,  pualing  thunder,  or  crashing  enrthcpiakcs  can 
come  up  to  tho  expectations  of  such  persojis. 


INQUIRIES    ANSWERED. 

"  Trifles,  on  an  interesting  aubject, 
Cease  to  be  trifles." 

Ah  many  inquiries  are  made  as  to  places,  heights,  dis- 
tances, nml  on  a  variety  of  other  subjects,  the  following 
paragraphs  arc  intcjided  as  answers  to  such,  and  alibrd 
in  the  shortest  practicable  way,  the  information  required. 

The  form  of  the  Fnlls  is  a  curve.  That  part  between 
Iris  island  and  Canada  is  called  the  Horse  Shoe  Falls. 

The  western  or  Horse  Shoe  Fall  is  about  seven  hun- 
dred yards  in  circumference. 

The  Fall  on  the  northern  sido  of  tho  island  Is  three 
hundred  and  thirty  yards. 

The  centre  i  all,  bct-wxjcn  Iris  and  Prospect  isUmdfl,  is 
about  thirtv-thrct3  vords. 


Ij. 


JAUNT   TO   THE    PALLS. 


109 


ira  Biiu'u 

WQ8    80 

1  (liou^U 
red  from 
A.iul  yet 
inppoint- 
htar  it 
,  roaring 
kcb   can 


This,  tlis- 
following 
nd  afibrd 
equired. 
between 

ven  hun- 

[  Is  threo 

ieUmdfl,  is 


(liumlily  of  water  passiiijj  over  llir  I'jiIIh. 


Tlio  whole  (liBtnnrc  nroiind  the  curve,  inchuhiifr  Iria 
and  Profjprct  ielnridf^,  ia  computed  at  one  thousand  four 
hnndrf'd  yards. 

The  height  of  the  Falla,  on  the  American  fide,  is  ono 
hundred  and  Fixty-four  feet;  on  the  Canada  side,  ono 
hundred  and  fifty-eight  feet. 

From  Chi])pcwa  to  Schlosaer  Ihc  river  is  the  widest. 
The  descent  from  those  places  to  the  great  pitch  is  esti- 
mated at  ninety  feet. 

At  the  ferry  below  the  Fnlls  the  river  is  fifty-six  rods 
wide.  It  has  been  crossed  in  live  minutes;  it  ordinarily 
requires  ten. 

The  cloud  of  ppray  wliich  arises  from  the  Falls,  is 
nlvvoy?  S3en,  except  when  scattered  by  the  wind.  It  is 
sonictinics  seen  irom  a  great  distance,  even  from  that  of 
one  hundred  miles. 

Computations  have  been  made  of  the  quantity  of  water 
that  passes  over  the  FuHh.  One  -'s  Ibat  5,034,089,280 
barrels  descend  in  twenty-four  hours;  211,830,853,  in 
one  hour;  8,5.30,614,  in  a  minute;  and  58,843  in  a  sec- 
ond. This  statement  is  undoubtedly  within  bounds;  and 
the  quantity  is  probably  considerably  more. 

The  average  height  of  the  banks  about  the  Falls  is  from 
two  hundred  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet. 

You  can  go,  for  a  short  distance  from  Iris  island,  un- 
der the  spray  of  the  Horse  Shoe  Falls;  some  have  called 
it  going  under  the  Horse  Shoe  Falls,  but  that  is  saying 
ioo  much. 

The  principal  spot  visited,  for  going  under  the  sheet  of 
water,  is  at  Tabic  Rock.  Even  there,  it  is  fashionable  to 
iueak  of  ihc  distance  advanced,  in  exaggerated  tcruib. 


I 


110 


JAUNT   TO   THE    PALLS. 


Nuiiilier  of  ViHiterH. 


Great  difibrenccs  of  opinion  exist  as  to  the  best  view 
of  this  sccno  of  mnny  wonders.  One  says,  **  the  best 
view  of  the  Falls  is  from  Tabic  Rock."  Another,  "the 
best  view  to  be  had  is  from  the  centre  of  the  river,  in 
crossing."  A  third,  **at  Ware's  observatory,  near  the 
ferry.  A  fourth,  *Mhe  best  view  is  from  the  foot  of  the 
etair-casc,  on  the  American  side."  A  fifth,  **  the  grand- 
est views  of  all  are  from  the  point  of  Iris  island  where  it 
overlooks  the  Horse  Shoe  Falls,  and  from  the  Tower  at 
the  Terrapin  rocks." 

After  all,  it  must  be  conceded  that  the  view  of  the 
Falls  in  Canada,  surpasses  any  on  the  American  side. 
On  this  side  there  are  many  different  views;  your  eye 
passes  over  the  various  prospects,  piece  by  piece;  on  the 
Canada  eide  you  have  a  full  front  view.  On  the  Ameri- 
can side,  comparing  large  things  with  small,  you  not  only 
occupy  the  stage  box,  but  go  behind  the  scenes. 

Persons  who  visit  the  Falls,  to  form  a  right  conception 
of  the  wonders  of  this  country  should  pass  over  to  Iris 
island,  should  visit  the  whirlpool,  and  great  rapids  along 
the  river,  and  should  cross  into  Canada. 

From  the  rapidity  of  the  water  below  the  Falls,  it  has 
been  difficult  to  fathom  it,  but  as  nearly  as  has  been  as- 
certained, it  is  two  hundred  and  forty  feet  deep. 

The  ferrymen  convey  baggage  safely  from  one  side  of 
the  river  to  the  other,  for  a  fair  compensation.  The 
descending  and  ascending  the  hills  is  a  laborious  task, 
and  they  earn  their  money. 

The  number  of  visiters  increase  yearly.  In  1838,  from 
the  best  authority,  the  number  exceeded  twciity  thou- 
sand.    The  number  of  visiters  in  1831),  exceed  d  by  one- 


JAUiNT   TO   THE    PALLS. 


Ill 


Niiiiics  Mild  liiitJalH. 


third,  that  of  any  other  year.  In  1840,  though  tho 
preBSuro  of  the  limes  wns  impi  ledented,  yet  the  num- 
ber of  visitors  was  about  tho  eamc  as  tho  previous  year. 


NAMES    AND    INITIALS    ON   THE    ROCKS    AND 

TREKS. 


•'  Busy  memory  seeks, 
IVen  in  tlie  woody  glade,  for  boujo  dear  mark 
Of  iliose  we  love." 

There  are  observed  many  names  and  initials  chiseled 
upon  the  rocks,  and  cut  upon  the  trees.  Some  high  in 
the  branches,  and  some  projecting  over  the  precipice. 
At  the  first  thought  one  sujjposes  that  the  short  lived 
immortality  thus  to  be  obtained  is  hardly  worth  the  labor 
and  risk. 

It  is  not  so  much  the  expectation  of  fixing  a  lasting  me- 
morial, as  the  pleasure  of  having  one's  name  recognised 
by  some  friend,  or  acquaintance,  in  present  or  after  years. 
These  mementos  arc  like  the  registry  of  a  public  house, 
but  possesses  a  romantic  interest  that  registers  do  not. 
Here  on  the  dark  rocks  and  wild  forest  trees  of  Niagara, 
mingled  with  names  from  every  pau  of  the  world,  will 
sometimes  be  found  one  dear  to  the  heart  of  the  observer, 
and  the  object  will  be  hailed  with  pleasure.  It  may  have 
been  indented  years  ago,  and  he  who  made  the  memorial, 
may,  when  the  name  is  recognised,  have  ceased  to  exist 
among    the    living  ;    and  then  mn^'  be  broiif''ht  t 


I 


10 


JiU^^^K#'- 


112 


JAUNT   TO    THE    FALLS. 


Mists  aiui  Optical  Illusions. 


"  eccncfi  long  pnescd,  never  to  relurn."  More  thnu  once, 
nlfoclini;  recof^'iiizfinccR  ol  thifi  kind  have  been  witnessed. 
Ifnd  the  first  Enropf.'nn  wlio  visited  this  pjjot  lelt.  Honie 
ineniorinl  of  tlie  lime,  and  his  own  name,  he  woidd,  by 
thnt  nh^bl  cireuniRtaner,  have  secured  an  inunorlality  for 
aiin8<!lf,  and  niiieb  Balisfaclion  to  modern  enciuirers. — 
This  is  nof,  a  listless  labor;  it  is  interesting  to  many, 
and  will  often  allord  some  data  aad  materials  for  the 
traveller  and  historian. 


itH' 


^U  i 


MISTS    AUOtJM)    THE    FALLS,    AND    OPTICAL 
ILLUiSIONS. 

"  Iiulitilinct 


"  Hc(Mi  (liroiutli  liio  nuhid  tiir,  beyond  the  life, 
"Objects  11  ppctir." 

The  Falls,  1o  rcsidenis,  have  lost  much  of  their  lonc- 
hi>3S8,  the  majesty  and  awful ness  which  they  once  poa- 
eesBcd.  Frequently  beholding  them  has  nnide  the  scene 
familiar;  not  only  so,  but  there  are  now  so  many  of  the 
works  of  man  about  them,  houses  stair-cases,  bridges, 
roads,  pro.-^pect  towers,  and  the  like,  that  the  wild  and 
savage  a6i)ect  which  they  once  wore,  has  di6ai)peared. 

When  the  ferry  was  at  first  established,  at  times  there 
would  not  be  a  passenger  for  several  days;  in  conse- 
quence, it  would  be  often  neglected,  and  travellers  were 


JAUNT   TO    THE    FALLS. 

l-'irst  (iiscoviTv, 


113 


>  n,c  „„nu,,„,„  or  ,i,„  ;„..,,,„,,,,,,,  ,,,,jy  ,,„j,,,„,: 

«)a«  wijo«««  <h„.  ,l,:„,i„e,I,  wl,a.  ,„.,.t  ,.„.i„„s,  on  im- 
-rtm.t  h„8,„,«  „,  e,.,„.  11,0  ,;v„,  ,,,,,„,_..  ^  „„i,^j  „__ 
<he  Ainor,™,,  bm.k,  „„,!  vv„tcl,c,l  iLc  „„„,„;;  „f  ,Ue  ,;,,. 
ryin-n.  C1„„,I«  „f  ,„is(  w,„;M  „,„vo  ,lowu  fbc  river,  cb- 
8c.,r,ns,  ..xcc,,l  ,„  ;,„,,,,,,,,,  „„■  rf,,,,,.  f,,,„  each  uihc. 
Al  8UC.L  Inius,  l„„  „p,,oa,a„cc«  v^on..  Irnly  ,locc|,!ive.     I 

;l*c,  e  a,em  „„s.,„,-  d„„,,  ,!,,  i,i„    „„ 

c  .mt    (I,  .r  „,„„,„,„  „,   ,|,^,y  „^,^.„„,^^,,,    ,^^    ^j^_^ 

pi.--'.      I>.-oWlv,  „  |,|,„t  ,„■  ,,,„,  ,,„„,j  ^._,_^_     ^1^      ;; 

"""y  the  cl.....i  „(■  „„■„,,   „„.,   ^,^^,„,,.„^,  ^,^^        ^j^^^^    ^^'^^ 

|.™,,.  wco  in  „i,l,|.     I  „,,«l,i  ,l,i„k  ,|,ey  b,„|  „t„ea 

e  ,.n,l  ,b„  ,.oc ..,  „,.  «.„.e  i.  „„o  i,id,Io„  ,„„,  of  ,he  „„th 

Iml  .«-,.,„k,,l  ,h.  bm,k,  „«  ;,,  «.,„„„I  Us  ol,.„„ro  wny  „„. 

..«■  d.n.lM  „n,l  (rec.     Ag.-,:,,  ,t,e  ,„i,t  ,,„„,,i  „||  ;^,_,^ 

nn<l  „.„,„  ,b„  pi„„„„„,  „„,,,,,  „j,j,„,„.    _,,_^,_  |.|^^^  __^^  .^^^^^^ 

Jutms  would  lure  n.o  lo  remain  (ill  ,|„rk„e8s  „„cl  n.ght 
nil  of)  nil  prospect  of  (ho  ferryman's  comin.'  n" 

Wbo  ilret  diecovered  tbe  F„ll.,  does  no°t  „ppe„r  to  ho 
knew,,.  They  were  visited  in  1(;57,  and  wilboul  do,d,t 
"m..y  yoar«  l.eforo.  Thi,  i,  (ho  earliest  notieo  of  (hem 
ycl  ,r„„ght  to  light.  In  1078,  they  were  vi«ted  and  de- 
6cr,ho     by  Father    Hennipcn.      The   deeeription  is  not 

llu.  Falls  („)0  feet  h.gh,  it  i.  likely  (he  estimate  was  made 
from  (ho  top  of  (he  banli  (o  the  supposed  bottom  of  tho 
gulf,  or  abyss  into  which  tho  waters  ore  precipitated.  It 
18  nut  mm  ccriainly  known  but  (hot 


"     !   \  i\ 


poii.t  of  viov/  ii? 


er.r 


rcet. 


Ills  Cfiuiiiaie  in  (hut 


114 


JAUNT    TO   THE    FALLS. 


Fruiicis  Abl)Ott. 


After  having  viewed  the  Fnlle,  from  the  observatory, 
or  brow  of  the  bank,  to  thr ir  satisfaction,  the  travellers 
pass  down  the  river,  entering  the  pleasure  garden.  A 
Bummer  house  stands  upon  the  ground  where  once  was 
the  cottage  of  Francis  Abbott.  From  this  place  he  could 
look  out  upon  the  Falls,  and  regale  himself  with  the  sight 
of  the  object  to  which  he  was  siJcU-bound  and  infatuated. 
This  was  not  a  favored  residence;  but  as  he  could  not  be 
permitted  to  seclude  himRclf  on  the  island,  to  wbich  he 
was  so  extremely  partial,  he  Borrowfi.lly  seated  himself 
;  here.  As  every  visitor  wiBhca  to  hear  about  this  eccentric 
gentleman,  all  the  information  Ibat  has  been  obtained, 
is    given  in  the  following  account. 


FRANCIS    ABBOTT. 

«'Frotn  my  youth  upwnnla, 
My  epirit  wi^lknil  not,  wilh  the  souls  of  men, 
Nor  looked  tiiioii  tlic  earth  wilh  human  eycM  -, 
The  tliirst  of  their  ai!i!)ition  was  not  niino,— 
Tlie  aim  of  tlieir  existence  was  no:  mine  ; 
I  had  no  sympathy  witli  l)^^aUlin^  flesh. 
My  joy  was  in  tiie  wilderness,  to  breathe 
The  diflicuU  air  of  the  iced  momitain's  top. 
Where  the  1)ird3  dare  not  build,  nor  insects  wing 
Flit  o'er  the  herbless  <rranitc  ;  or  to  plunge 
Into  the  rolling  torrent,  and  to  roll  tilong." 

In  the  afternoon  of  the   181  h  of  June,  1820,  a  t^l, 
vwll  built,  and  handsome  man,  drc&5cd  in  n  long  loose 


JAUXT   TO    THE    PALLft. 


115 


Fr.'inris  Alihoif. 


gown    or  cloak,  of   a   chocolate   color,  was  .con  passi..g 
through    ho  principal   .tree.,  of    the    village   of   Niagara 
FallB.     He  had  uiider  his  arm  a  roll  of  blankets,  a  llutt, 
a  port  foho,  and  a  large  book;  in  his  right  hand  he  carried 
n  Bmall  stick.     Ho  advanced  towards  (he  Ea^rle  Hotel 
attracting  the  gn/e  cf  vis.lors  and  others  by  the  singular- 
ity of  hL.  appearance.     With  elastic  step   and  animated 
motion   he  passed  the  hotel;  he  heeded  not  the  inquiring 
gaze  of  the  .die  multitude,  but  linn  and  erect  he  bent  hit 
course  to  a  more  lowly,  but  re.pectable  inn.     He  at  onco 
entered  into  stipulations  with  the  landlord,  that  the  room 
1^0  occupied  should   b.  solely  his  own;   that  he  sliould 
Imohistabe   to  himself;  and  that  only  certain  portions 
ot  h.s  fare  should  be  furnished  by  tlie  landladv.     He  made 
tue  U8unl   inquiries   about  the   FuUe,    and   amon-r  other 
tlimgs,  wished  to  know  if  there  was  a  reuding-room  or 
'lary  in  the  village.     Being  informed  that  there  was  a 
ibrary,   he  immediately  repaired  to   the   individual  who 
kept  It;  deposited  three  dollars,  and  took  a  book;   j.urcha- 
«.da  violm;  borrowed  music  book.;  irdormed  the  librarian 
that  his  name  was  Francis  Abbott;  that  he  should  remain 
a  cw  days  at  the  Fails,  and  conversed  on  many  subjects 
with  great  ease  and  ability. 

The  next  day,  ho  returned  to  the  same  person;  expa- 
tia  ed  largely  upon  the  surrounding  scenery,  the  cascades 
and  cataracts,  and  of  that  sublime  spectacle,  the  Falls 
n  all  his  travels,  he  said,  he  had  never  met  with  any 
(Inng  to  compare  with  this  combination  of  all  that  was 
groat^  and  beautiful.  There  was  nothing  so  grand  as 
N  ngara  Falls  except  Mount  .Etna,  during  an  eruption. 
He  inqmred  how   long   traveller,  usually  remained,  and 


I 


116 


JAUNT  TO  THE  FALLS. 


Mis  opinion  of  the  Falls. 


being  informed  that  many  stayed  only  one  day,  he  obser- 
ved that  he  should  remain  at  leant  a  week;  and  further 
remarked,   "Can  it  be,  that  there  are  thoae  who  come  to 
this  place,  and  leave  it  in  one  day!  I  am  astonished  that 
persona  can  be  found  so  little  interested  in  these  aston- 
ishing works  of  nature,  as  to  spend  so  short  a  period  of 
time  in   passing   around  and  beholding  them.     As  well 
might  a  traveller,  in  one  or  two  day?,  attempt  to  examine 
in  detail  the  various  mueeums  and  curiosities  of  Paris,  as 
to  think  of  becoming   ncqunintcd  with   the  magnificent 
scenery  of  Niagara,  in  such  a  short  space  of  time." 
^     In  a  few  days  ho  called  again,  and  again  expatiated  up- 
on the  resplendent  scenery  of  the  Falls,  and  said  he  had 
concluded  to  remain  a  month,  and  perhaps  six  months. 
In  a  short  time  after,  ho  determined  to  fix  his  abode  on 
Iris  island,  and  was  desirous  of  erecting  a  rustic  hut,  for 
the  purpose  of  abstracting  himscll  from  all   society,  and 
of  becoming   a   solitary  hermit.      The  proprietor  of  the 
island  having  become  acquainted  with  his  eccentricities, 
was  apprehensive   that   his    permanent   residence   there, 
might  be   alarming  to  strangers,  who  did  not  know  him. 
For  this  reason,  he  thought  it  not  proper  to  allow  him  to 
erect  a  building  for  such  a  purpose,  but  permitted  him  to 
occupy  a  room  in  the  only  house  then  on  the  island.     In 
this  house  there  lived  a  family  that  furnished  him  at  times 
with  milk  and  bread.     But  he  often  dispensed  with  these 
necessary  articles,  providing   himself  in  such  other  way 
as  suited  his  fancy,  and  preparing  his  food  to  suit  his  own 
taste.     He  observed  once  to  a  friend,   *'that  people,  in 
their  mode  of  living,  took  a  great  deal  of  trouble  and  un- 
necessary pains;  for  my  part,  I   have  adopted  a  method 


JAUNT   TO   THE    PALLS. 


117 


HiM  residonce  — mode  of  livinjr. 


Which  I  find  very  pleasant  and  agreeable.  I  take  about  a 
pmt  of  water,  in  which  I  mix  n  eufficient  quantity  of 
wheat  flour,  to  give  it  a  proper  consistence,  and  then 
dnnk  ,t  down.  I  find  that  it  answers  every  purpose,  and 
eaves  me  much  labor  and  inconvenience." 

With  his  guitar  by  his  side,  supported  from  his  shoulder 
with  a  silken  sash,  like  an  Eastern  Minstrel,  he  would 
perambulate  the  banks  of  the  river  to  the  Whirlpool-  and 
once  or  twice  extended  his  Malk  to  Lewioton.  The  in- 
mates  of  the  houses  on  the  way  would  suddenly  hear 
the  sounds  of  strange  and  unknown  music,  the  musician 
would  be  observed  standing  at  a  distance  in  the  road,  but 
ns  soon  as  noticed,  or  spoken  to,  would  glide  away 
without  giving  any  reply.  ' 

The  island  was  his  permanent  residence  for  about  20 
months,     At  length,   the  family  removed;  and  to  those 
tew  persons  with  whom  he  held  converse,  he  expressed 
his  great  satisfaction  of  having  it  in  his  power  to  live  en- 
tirely alone.     For  some  months,  ho  seemed  to  enjoy  him- 
self  very   much,  and    until   another   family    entered  the 
house.     He  then  concluded  to  erect  a  cottage  of  his  own; 
and  as  he  could  not  build  on  the  island,  he  made  choice  of 
the  high  bank  of  the  river,  near  to  and  in  full  view  of  the 
Falls;  which,   of  all  other  objects,  it  was  his  delight    to 
behold.  He  occupied  his  new  residence  about  two  months. 
On   Friday,  the   lOth  of  June,    1831,  he  went  twice 
below  the  bank  of  the  river,  to  bathe,  and  was  seen  to 
go  a  third  time.     At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the 
ferryman  baw  him  in  the  water —  he  was  partly  floating 
and  partly  resting  his  body  on  the  shelving  rocks.     As 


Tv    I 


the  boat  approached,  to 


screen  himself  from  (he  gaze  of 


9mmM-. 


118 


JAUNT  TO  THE  PALI.H. 


M'liiiKT  ol'  Ills  (Icat!!. 


tho  pnRKon^Pi'8,  ho  drew  Lin  lioad  under  llio  wnlor.  It  wjih 
not  seriously  tbouglit  of,  us  he  bfid  often  been  noticed  in 
the  same  aituation,  and  acting  in  the  same  manner. 
When  the  ferryman  returned,  bin  clothep  ;  seen  on 
the  rocka,  svliiire   \\c  ueurdly  deponited  them.  jo  was 

not  there.  An  examinalion  waH  inniiediatidy  niad(>,  but 
hiH  body  coidd  jiot  be  lound.  It  wna  8U['[)o8ed  to  have 
been  carried  away  by  tho  current. 


th 


III 


} 


k  '•  The  iircciiy  siiriro  li;ul  Kwept  liiia  down,  I'lr,  fur 

Froiii  iiiorlal  krii." 

On  the  2Ih<,  llie  body  wan  taken  up  a(  Fort  Niagara, 
was  eh'arly  idcntilled,  and  wan  on  Ihe  next  (biy  removed 
and  d(>eenily  interrc'I  in  tho  burial  ground  at  Nia«^ara 
FaUH. 

Thus  tcrminaled  tli;-  career  of  the  iinfortenato  Francis 
Abbott  —  lillle,  indeed,  luuAvn  to  Iho.-o  near  wliom  he 
spent  tho  two  laal  yems  of  his  hfe.  Sv)uie  f 'W  gksam'nga 
more  can  only  bo  given.  He  way  an  Engli>h  gentleman, 
of  a  retyped  able  family;  he  was  endowed  with  a  good 
mind,  highly  cultivated;  and  was  eminently  pleasing  in 
his  nuinnerrt.  lie  was  not  oidy  master  of  several  langua- 
ges, bat  deeply  read  in  the  arti3  and  BcicnccH,  and  pos- 
sessed all  the  minor  aeeoniplibhnu'nts  of  the  tininhcd  gen- 
tleman, fa^scinating  eolIo([uial  powero,  and  music  and 
drawing  in  great  perfection.  Many  years  of  bis  life  had 
been  spent  in  travelling.  He  had  visited  Fgypt  and  Pa- 
lestine; had  trtivelled  through  Turk..y  niul  Greece,  Italy, 
Spain,  Portugal,  and  France;  and  had  resided  lor  cun- 
eideruble   periods   o[  time  in    R;»me,    Naples,  and  Pari«. 


JAUNT    TO    THE    FALLS. 


119 


His  cli.'iractrr. 


While  nt  iho  Fnlle, 


l)UHinrss  hrongbt  him  in  cnnlncl,  with 


Foveral  of  the  ii 

■  ■'  "••"«»  t<-*v  in  ijiuiu  ue  would 

somet.mos  ho  «ociahlc;  to  all  others  ho  was  distant  and 
rcsorv..!.     JLs  conversations  were  always  inlercstinrr,  and 
h.s  doseriptions  of  countries  and  people    highly  glowing 
nnd  animated.     But  at  times,  even  with  his  favored  ac- 
quamtancc,  he  wonid  hold  no  converse;   but  conununica- 
ted  to  them  his  wishes,  on  a  slate,  and  would  rerpiest  that 
nothing  might  he  said  to  him.     Ifc  would  frequently,  for 
Ihree  or  four  months,  go  vmshaved,-  often  wifh  no  coverirtg 
on  his  head,  ami  his  body  enveloped  in  a  blanket;  shun- 
ning  all,  and  seeking  the   deepest  solitude  of  the  island 
He  composed  much,  and  generally  in  Latin;  but  he  do 
Btroyed  his  compositions  almost   as  fast  as  he  produced 
Ihem.     When  his   little  cot  was  examined;    hopes  were 
entertained  that  some  manuscript  or  memorial  might  bo 
ound,  of  his  own  comi)osition;   but  he  left  nothing  of  tho 
kind.     Ifis  faithful   dog  guarded   his  door,    and   it  was 
with  difficulty  it  was  persuaded  aside  while  it  was  opened. 
J  lis  cat  occupied  his  bed;  and  his  guitar,   violin,  flutes, 
mid  music  books,    were  scattered  around  in   confusion. 
Iherc  was  a  portfolio,  and  the   leaves  of  a   large  book- 
but  not  a  word,  not  even  his  name,  was  written  Jn  any 
of  them.  ' 

Many  spots  on  Iris  island  arc  consecrated  to  the  mo- 
mory  of  Francis  Abbott.  On  the  upper  end  of  the  island 
he  had  established  his  walk,  nnd  in  one  place  it  had  be- 
come  trodden  and  well  beaten,  hke  that  on  which  a  sen- 
tinel  performs  his  tour  of  duty.  Between  Iris  and  Moss 
•sland,  there  is  cm!,owcred  in  seclusion  and  shade,  one 
01  the  moat  charming  waterfalls,  or  casofldcs,  iinamnable. 


'  II 


I 


120 


JAUNT    TO    THE    PALLS, 


Mis  walk.-'  —  his  toiiicritv 


■lijpi;; 


This  was  his  fnvorilc  rcjlrcut  for  balLiiig.  Thoio  bo  re- 
Bortcd  nt  nil  floasons  of  the  year.  In  the  coldest  wcntlicr, 
even  when  snow  was  on  llio  ground,  and  ice  in  the  water, 
he  continued  lo  bathe  in  the  Niagara. 

On  the  lower  extremity  ol"  the  inland,  there  waa  a 
briiige  leading  over  what  are  called  the  Terrapin  Hocks; 
from  this  bridge  there  extended  a  single  jjiece  of  timber, 
eomc  twelve  or  lifteen  Ibet  over  the  precipice.  On  thia 
bridge  it  was  his  daily  practice  to  walk;  with  a  quick 
step  he  would  pat-H  the  bridge,  advance  on  the  timber  to 
the  extreme  point,  lurn  quickly  on  his  heel  and  walk 
'back;  and  continue  thus  to  walk  for  hours  together. — 
Sometimes  he  would  let  him.^eh"  down  at  the  end  of  the 
timber,  and  hang  under  it  by  his  handri  and  i'cet  for  fifteen 
and  twenty  minutes  nt  a  time,  and  this  over  a  chasm  so 
terrific,  as  to  make  di'/.zy  the  strongest  head.  On  being 
remonstrated  with,  for  thus  exposing  himself,  ho  would 
reply,  that,  in  cj'ossing  llie  ocean,  he  had  frequently  seen 
the  sea-boy  iji  much  greater  peril;  and,  as  he  should  pro- 
bably again  pass  the  sea,  he  wished  to  inure  himself  to 
such  damxcrs:  if  the  nerves  of  others  were  disturbed,  his 
were  not.  in  the  darkent  hours  of  the  night,  he  was 
often  foimd  walking  alone,  in  the  wildest  and  most  dan- 
gerous places  near  the  Falls;  and  at  such  times  he  would 
shun  the  approach  of  men,  as  if  they  were  unwelcome  in- 
truders on  his  solicitude. 

He  had  a  stipend  allowed  to  him  by  his  friends  in  Eng- 
land, competent  for  his  support.  He  attended  to  the 
"elate  of  his  accounts,  very  carefully;  was  economical  in 
his  eircnditure  of  money  for  his  own  use;  but  generous 
in  payinj  far  all  rav>n":j  an-'i  gjivJccs,  v.r-d  never  receiving 


JAUNT    TO    Tfli:    FAJ.LH. 


121 


Hit  oi)!l  i');i  ofilip  \i(.\vs 


m.y  thiMK  wilhc.t  .„„k,„,  i„„„e,li,„„  .,„,,„„,„.     j,^, 

:,  ;'7  ""•', "  !''";g  --'■  "'■  -li^'i"-  <i..L  „„.,  ,,.e  rut 

-smdd  ,,H,«  behavior,  ,,,.,,  i,,„n,,,i,„  ,,,,,„ J: 
•     1  ol,g,„„  w„s  u  «,l,j.et  l,c.  „,,.,rcaalc.,I,  ,,nd  .ec„.cd 
"'•11    "  .  ndoretand.     The  clarify  ho  „ekcd  from  o.bora 
lie  extended  lo  nil  mo.dvind.  ' 

What  it  will  |,e  i„,i„i,.,,,,  ,,„„,j  ^„^  ^ 
-leslroyed  s„ch  a  „,i„d  a,  hi,J  What  drive  hi,,,  fro,,, 
s"e.ely  wl„cl,  ho  woa  so  woll  cnlc.,l„,ed  ,„  „d,.rn,-„nd 
what  1rm,rf„„„  hi,,,,  „„I,ln  i„  „er«,„  „„d  uMkcl,  i„,„ 
nn,a„laled  a„e!,n,i,e,  „h„„„i„g  ,he  nseociali,,,,  „f  his 
ellow  „,e,r  1  The  ,„ya.ery  he  „ovor  unfolded,  „,„1  hi, 
•  .""J^  li..ve  ,ou,ai„ed  sile„t  ,,„  the  euhjeol.  Jlo  w„« 
ak.ut   twcly-oight   yc„r»  of  age,  a:,    the    time  of   hi. 

With  the  .ce„cry  of  Iho  Faib,  he  w„s  pcrfeelly  i„f„l- 
Mled,a„dcx„re:.„odhin,sc!fi„  ,he  ,„„.,t  mptaro,,.  ter,„„, 
jvhen  he  .poke  of  ,|,„  h„,,,if„l   ,et,o.lB  of  Iri,  island 
lie  was  „.kcd  why  be  did  not  („ko  up  his  residence  in 
Cai.adn,  under   his   own   (rove,„u,e„t-an,o„g  his  own 
peo,,  o;   and,    ns  ho   prefenod   hein;;  near  (he   Falls,  ho 
could  11,0,0  soleet  a  ,.l«ce  lo  suit  hi,n,  as  the  views  on' 
Huit  sulo  wore  conshiered  hy  ,na,iy,   ll,o  l.e«;.     liis  rculy 
"•as,  that  bo  pieferrd  I  his  side,  heeausc,  in  all  that  was 
'n<'-.resling  and   honuliful,  the  American   seencs   around 
luc  inlls  were  decidedly  superior. 


H 


iJigtSgiutigmt 


H'i 


122 


JAKNT    TO    THK    FALLS. 


Ah'x.'iiHlcr's  lim|). 


h^ 


hi?! 


m 


m 


'Iff 


ALEXANDERS    LEAP. 

"My  (hoiiplils  mine  buck.    AVlicrc  wjia  I  ?    Cold, 

An.l  nimil),  aihU'iilily,  i"''«^''y  P"'*^° 
Lifon-nssuiiiod  its  linu'criiif^  hold  ; 

And  llirob  liy  llirol),  lill  >rru\vr»  a  paiiff, 
Whicli  for  a  inoiiKMit  woidii  conviilso. 
]\Iy  blood  rc-dow'd,  tlioiijili  tliick  and  chill  i 
My  rar  witli  nia-oulh  noises  rang  •, 
My  heart  be<,'an  once  more  to  thrill  ; 
My  si.^ltt  reuirn'd,  thoii'ih  (Ihn,  alas! 
And  thicUen'd  as  it  \\ere  Willi  frhiss- 
Mcthoujilit  ll('^  <iash  of  waves  was  nigh  •, 
There  was  a  frleaiu,  too,  of  the  sky, 
Sindded  Willi  stars  : it  is  no  dream." 

At  a  Bpol,  about  thirty  rods  from  the  Falls,  a  thrilling 
incident  occurred  in  1836. 

A  number  of  men,  employed  upon  the  Lockport  and 
Niagara  Falls  railroad,  were  one  night  carousing  at  a 
small  tavern  in  the  village.  A  dispute,  upon  some  reli- 
gious subject,  arose  between  a  parly  of  Irishmen  and  a 
few  Scotchmen,  who  happened  to  be  present.  The 
Scotchmen  soon  found  it  necessary  to  retreat  to  another 
room  ;  but  the  Irish  blood,  excited  with  whiskey,  was 
up,  and  they  rushed  in  upon  them,  swearing  aeu\u  and 
destruction  upon  ''Luther's  breed."  It  had  beccme  one 
of  those  fierce  and  fatal  rows,  where  reason  is  lost  in 
passion  and  intoxication,  and  in  the  whirlwind  of  ex- 
citement,  blows  are  dealt,  and  life  is   taken;  and  from 


which,  happy  is  ho  who  can 


safely  retreat.     The  Scotch- 


t  , 


JAUNT    TO    THE    FALLS 


123 


Hi8  filltroni  the  bank. 


me,,  r.,3hed  Ibrough  Iho  l,„ck  door  „,„|  „ver  tb.  fenee» 
l"<l,„g  .hcneolvc.  hebiod   ..cc.  „„,1  „„„„„,      :,"'^^ 
«uccoe,cd  in  dudi,,,,  tUeir  i„f„n,„od  p„r,  ,cra     o,f„  rf 
then    however,  .,y   ,he  na,„c  of  Alexander,    .bo,"h  ho 

dre.dful      When  ho  got  out  of  ,bc  ynrd  of  Ibe  t„vern   ho 
found  h,„sel,  ,„„.,„a  ,y  ,„,„,„  „„^„„„_     ,      ;™'^; 

cq».,„ted  w„h  the  place;  it  w»s  about  i,  oVIoekT    nd 
qu,te  dark,,  be  o,.uld  «co  the  wood,,  „„  be  thought  «t  « 
distance.    He  ran  toward,  then:   be  wa,  .Icceivcd  by  bo 
hrush  wood  and  acatteri,,,,  trees  growing  along  the  ,^0 
bank  0    Ibe  r,vor.     As  ho  entered  the  wood,  he  rem™  . 
teed  al,ppn,g:  ,be  .lope  i,  about  SO  feet,  and  the  perpen- 
d,eular    he.gbt   70   feet :    he  recollected  no  ,n„re.      Tho 
next  .norning,  „t  the  beginning  of  day,  be  found  him- 
«lf  wounded  and  bleeding  on  tho  rock..     The  shelving 
bank  and  nver  on  one  side,  and  an  inBur,nou„tablc  bar 
ner  of  rock  on  tbo  other.      If.    bad  never  been  to  the 
»ll.,nndd,d  not  know  that  there  were  „„„.«  t„  „,cend 
the  hank;  but  tho  «hanloe,  at  which  the  workmen  lived, 
he  knew  was  down  the  river.     In  bopes  of  finding  so,no 
P^aco   to    «sce,„l,  crushed   and   bleeding  „s   he  was,  ho 
made  out  to  gather  himself  „p,  „,d  made  his  way  over 
the  rocks,  and  through  the  brakes  and  bushea.     I„  this 
muUated  state,  he  crawled  along  for  nearly  two  miles. 

rhe  next  day,  towards  noon,  bis  companions  began  to 

Unnk  of  b,m;  and,  as  there  was  snow  on  the  ground,  hi. 

teps  were  w,thout  difficulty  traced  to  where  he  had  ;one 

over  the  bank.     A  party  was  dcs|,atchod  below.     Mark, 

of  blood,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  had  drawn  himself 


soon  led  them  to  him.     They  fcand  hi 


11 


lu  on  mil 


124 


JAUNT    TO   TIIK    FALLS. 


l-'inli,  and  Au^liiiL'. 


feet,  ho  bad  a  stick  in  bia  bandfl,  over  wbich  bis  fingers 
were  clcncbod  throuj^'b  rncb  olbcr,  and  frozen  solid.  He 
was  going  round  and  round,  and  was  then  in  a  bewildered 
Btate;  and  if  timely  relief  bad  n.  t  arrived,  he  would  soon 
have  peiiBbed.  He  was  wrapped  in  blankets,  and  con- 
veyed to  the  place  where  he  lived.  His  body  was  se- 
verely injured,  and  his  hands  and  feet  were  badly  frost- 
bitten;  but,  with  good  medical  attendance,  and  careful 
nursing,  he  recovered  in  about  three  months,  with  the 
loss  of  some  fingers  and  Ioph.  Yet,  he  is  an  enfeebled 
,  man,  and  it  is  not  likely  that  his  former  strength  will 
ever  be  restored. 


FISH,    AND    ANGLING. 

«» The  silver  eel,  in  shining  volumes  roll'd  ; 
The  yellow  carp,  in  scales  bedeok'd  with  gold  ; 
g'.vift  trouts,  diversified  with  crimson  sUxins ; 
And  pikes,  the  tyrants  of  the  wat'ry  plains." 


Thp'c  are  several  places  where  fish  arc  taken  with  hook 
ar:  line,  and  pleasant  sport  is  aftbrded  to  those  fond  of 
angling.  The  best  places  are  between  the  two  sheets  of 
water,  on  Iris  island;  in  the  eddy  at  the  ferry,  in  Canada; 
and  at  the  Whirlpool  and  Devil  s  Hole.  There  are  also, 
several  other  places  resorted  to.  The  river  abounds  with 
a  variety  of  fiih:  white  fish,  salmon  trout,  pike,  pickerel, 


JAUNT  TO  THE  FALLS. 


125 


EelH. 


is  fingerH 
.lid.  He 
iwildcred 
t)idd  8oon 
nnd  con- 
'  W08  se- 
dly  frost- 
id  careful 
with  the 
enfeebled 
igth   will 


'1-, 


with  hook 
se  fond  of 
0  sheets  of 
n  Canada; 
•e  are  also, 
Dunds  with 
B,  pickerel, 


l)crch,  Bturgeon,  cnt-lish,  while  and  black  bass,  the  mue- 
ciilnngc,  ecia,  htrrinjr,  and  many  other  kinds. 

On  the  subject  of  Hsh  attempting  to  ascend  the  sheet 
of  water,  one  of  the  party,  a  traveller,  remarks  — '« In 
thin,  I  am  remindud  how  I  was  amused,  many  years  ago. 
When  I  was  a  yonfb,  I  was  nt  the  Falls,  on  some  busi- 
nces;  and,  while  dinner  wn.s  preparing,  the  schoolmaster 
of  the  village  came  in.  We  commenced  talking  about  the 
Falls.  He  conminnicated  to  me  his  whole  stock  of  infor- 
mation; and,  with  other  things,  gravely  informed  me  that 
he  had  sat  for  hours  together,  in  observing  the  exertions 
offish  to  ascend  the  sheet  of  water.  They  would  rise  for 
about  eight  feet,  and  then  fall  back,  and  attempt  it  again. 
Some  would  spring  from  the  water;  others  would  ascend 
the  sheet  by  muscular  strength." 

The  story  must  be  put  down  as  fabulous.  Yet,  ella 
do  actually  ascend  from  thirty  to  forty  (vet,  on  the  rocks, 
among  the  moss  and  grass,  where  the  mist  from  the 
Falls  constantly  descends ;  and  they  have  been  there 
picked  up,  in  considerable  quantities :  but  there  is  no 
possibility  of  their  reaching  the  river  above. 

Eels  were  not  formerly  taken  on  the  upper  lake;  but 
they  have  been  often  caught  in  the  river  below,  and  carri- 
ed  and  put  alive  in  the  stream  above.  It  was  supposed 
that  they  again  returned,  by  passing  over  the  Falls;  but, 
for  a  year  or  two  past,  a  few  messes  of  fine  eels  have  been 
caught  in  the  river  above,  and  carried  to  the  BufFalo 
market. 


i 


hi 


,8  i 
'1|  ■■'  ■ 


I 


m 


I 


Si ... 

Mkm 


:      r 

ll;':', 

IIIH^mI 

^^B '  '^' 

126 


JAUNT   TO    THE    PALLS. 


HiiiHiii^'  groiiniiH,  nud  (iiiiiM* 


HUNTING  GROUNDS,  AND  GAME. 

The  wholo  extent  of  country  lyintj  east  of  the  Falls, 
on  the  American  side,  is  well  filled  witL  game.  This 
tract  is  yet  new,  a  large  portion  of  it  being  in  a  state  of 
nature,  and  deer  and  bears  have  not  entirely  disappeared; 
though  the  latter  is  quite  a  stranger.  Sometimes  wolves 
aio  numerous  and  troublesome,  but  among  a  people  with 
whom  the  rifle  is  as  familiar  as  the  scythe  and  reaping 
hook,  their  career  is  but  short.  Foxes,  wild  cats,  racoons, 
squirrele,  and  other  wild  game,  are  plenty.  Similar 
descriptions  of  game  are  yet  found  on  the  islands. 

For  the  sportsman,  there  are  ducks,  sometimes  wild 
geese,  pheasants,  quails,  pigeons  and  woodcocks.  The 
woods  of  Canada  also  abound  witli  some  kind  of  game. 

Large  stories  have  been  related,  by  travellers,  of  water 
fowl  alighting  in  the  current,  t:bove  the  Falls,  and,  before 
they  could  rise,  of  being  drawn  over. 

One  authentic  instance  can  only  be  mentioned.  As  a 
gentleman  was  standing  near  the  Falls,  he  saw  a  duck  in 
the  water  above.  It  was  playing  and  gamboling  in  the 
rapid  stream,  just  where  the  water  begins  to  curve  over 
Ihe  rock.  It  plunged  in,  and  rose  again,  several  times. 
At  length,  it  dived  too  near  the  suction  of  the  current, 
and  it  was  seen  no  more. 

After  very  heavy  and  dark  nights,  much  game  in  the 
morning  is  frequently  picked  up,  in  the  river  below,  such 
as  wild  geese,  ducks,  and  swans,  a  bird  not  common  to 
th«  couatry.     They  fall  in  the  current,  in  the  darkness  o'" 


JAUNT    TO    THE    FALLS. 


127 


Itoiul  down  the  linnk. 


the  night,  or  dash  the.n^elves,  in  Ihoir  paHeage,  against 
the  rocks  or  sheet  of  wafer.  They  arc  found  dead,  or 
du^nbled,  With  broken  legg  or  vvina«. 

An  old   English   inagn/ine,  called   the   -  Magazine  of 
Magazines,"  pretends  to  give   ^' .  true  account  of  Niagara 
Falls  ,n  Amenca."     A.nong  other  things,  it  states  that 
the  Indians,  in  their  canoes,   sometimes  passed  the  Falls 
in  safety.     That  the   cjuantity  of  game  drawn  in,  and  car- 
ned  over  the  Falls  was  so  great,  that  oii  a  time,  the  French 
garrison,  at  Fort  Niagara,  consisting  of  ]000  men,  becom- 
ing  destitute  of  provisions,  were  subsisted  for  three  months 
on  the  game  picked  up  below  the  Falls.     Surely,  travel- 
lers   in  those  days,  u.iderstood  how  to  exaggerate  full  as 
well  as  those  of  modern  times. 


ROAD    DOWN    THE    BANK. 


>M 


Between  eighty  and  one  hundred  rods  from  the  Falls 
the  party  arrive  at  a  large  excavation  in  the  bank.     Great 
quantities  of  earth  have  been  washed  away  by  the  action 
of  water  conducted  in  a  race  from  the  rapids  for  that  pur- 
pose;  and  masses  of  the  rock  have  been  blasted  longe   and 
thrown  down.     It  is  the  commencemeiit  of  a  carriage- 
road  to  the  ferry.     The  road  down  the  bank,  in  Canada 
was  completed  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  ago,  and  this  was 
begun  soon  after.     Very  little  progress  was  made,  and  it 
was  soon  discontinued.     In  1836,  was  re-conmenced,  un- 
11* 


ii, 


III       I'. 


fill  ill 


129 


JAUNT   TO    THE    FALLP. 


Sliip  Canal  around  ilie  l-'alls. 


der  the  QUspicGH  of  BLMijimiia  llatLil)un;  and  if  his  opera- 
tions had  not  been  brongbt  to  u  close,  it  would  soon  have 

been  completed. 

It  J8  to  be  regretted  that  a  work  so  much  required  by 
the  citizens  of  the  country,  and  for  the  nccommodation  of 
the  travelling  public,  ehoidd  bo  permitted  to  linger  along 
from  year  to  year.     At  an   early  day  the   erection  of  a 
flight  of  stairs  to  descend  the  bank  to  the  ferry  was  Buffi- 
eient;  but  now  when  the  ferry  produces  a  large  income,, 
and  thousands  are  anuually  crossing  the  river,  both  on 
business  and  f.^r  amusement,  no  description  of  stairs  can 
give  to  the  public  that  safe  and  convenient  communication 
which  ought  to  be  afforded,  where  there  is  so  much  pas- 
sing and  re-passing.     It  is  wrong  that   travellers  should 
be  still  obliged  to  descend  long   and  tedious  stair  cases. 
In  the  road  down  the  bunk,  and  in  the  Welland  canal, 
the  Canadians  have  gone  ahead  of  American  enterprise. 
The  very  cuter-^rising  gentleman  who  claims  the  exclu- 
sive right  of  r.iaking  this  road,  has  listened  to  public  opin- 
ion,  and  he  lias  promised  that  the  work  shall  be  immedi- 
ately commenced  upon,  and  continued  until  it  is  comple- 

^  But  as  to  the  great  ship  canal  to  connect  the  two  lakes! 
Forty  American  vcsgels  have  been  counted  at  one  time 
lying  in  Port  Dalhousie,  in  Canada,  waiting  to  pass  thro' 
the  Canadian  canal.  Will  not  the  western  states  rouse  to 
action  on  this  all-important  subject  ?  Will  they  allow  this 
great  connecting  link  between  these  mighty  waters  to  re- 
main  broken?  Or  shall  the  vessels  of  this  proud  Republic 
much  longer  contiime  subject  to  the  onerous  regulations 
Aud  exactions  of  a  distant  dependency  of  Great  Britain  ? 


JAUNT    TO    THE    PALLS. 


129 


Indian  Ladder. 


When  the  road  down  the  bank  was  first  commenced, 
an  Irish  laborer  was  employed  on  a  projecting  rock,  of 
several  tons  weight.  Very  unexpectedly,  the  rock  gave 
way,  and  both  went  down  together.  Fortunately,  the 
rock  passed  down  first,  struck  a  heap  of  earth  below,  and 
rolled  out  of  the  way.  The  man  fell  on  the  same  heap  of 
earth,  and  was  to  little  injured  that  in  a  few  days  he  was 
able  to  resume  his  work. 


THE    INDIAN    LADDER. 

A  few  rods  further,  and  the  guide  points  out  a  notch 
in  the  bank.  Here  is  the  oldest  place  for  descending  to 
the  Falls:  it  is  called  the  Indian  Ladder.  The  ladder 
consisted  of  a  cedar  tree,  lying  sloping  against  the  rocks. 
The  natural  branches,  and  notches  cut  in  the  body  of  the 
tree,  were  the  only  slight  helps  afforded  to  those  who 
went  down.  The  last  person  known  to  have  descended, 
was  a  hunter,  by  the  name  of  Brooks.  He  was  in  pur- 
suit of  some  game,  which  he  had  shot,  and  had  fallen 
below.  He  got  about  half  way  down,  when  he  slipped, 
and  fell  between  twenty  and  thirty  feet,  and  was  badly 
injured. 


130 


JAUNT    TO    THE    FALLS. 


I'oiiil  View. 


I'OINT    VIEW. 


—  "I  am  on  llie  brink 


Of  the  srreat  waters  •,  jind  their  autiiealic  voice 
Coes  up  aiiiid  tlie  rainl)')W  and  the  mist, 
Their  chorus  shakes  tlie  ground." 


i|,i  |. 


I*   i 


Point  View,  on  ilic  American  side,  not  a  neio  position, 
as  the  clear  surface  of  the  bank  and  well  trod  foot  path 
will  show,  but  one  hardly  nienlioned  by  any  who  have 
written  on  this  subject,  was  the  spot  from  which  Vander- 
lyn  sketched  one  of  his  great  paintings  of  the  Falls. 

On  the  projecting  rock  at  Point  View,  the  spectator 
stands  and  beholds  the  unrivalled  prospect  which  is  spread 
before  him.  Two  hundred  feet  below  the  rock  from 
which  he  looks,  lies  the  calm  ilark  waters  of  the  river, 
bounded  on  either  side  with  rock  and  precipice;  the  ad- 
joining shores  crowned  with  native  forest  trees,  and  in  the 
distance  green  meadowi-i,  blooming  orchards,  and  rising 
villages.  He  looks  at  the  great  object  of  his  gaze,  with 
sensations  of  reverence;  the  white  sheets  hanging  in  mid 
air;  the  waters  foaming,  and  hurrying  from  beneath  those 
that  impend  above;  the  spray  rushing  up  from  the  deep 
cavern,  and  rising  in  clouds,  which  hang  as  a  pillar  of 
smoke  over  this  sublime  sanctuary  of  nature's  mysteriefl. 
The  rocky  base  of  Iris  island,  dividing  the  Falls,  with  its 
tall  trees  towering  above  the  water;  the  Terrapin  rocks 
on   the  American  side,    and  Table  Rock,  in  Canada:— 


JAUNT   TO    THE    FALLS. 


131 


The  Falls  spoken  of  by  olht-rs. 


altogether  the  scene  is,  beyond  conception,   unique  and 
imposing. 

It  is  thought,  by  some,  that  the   terms  in  which  the 
J'allH  ore   sitoken  of  nnd  usually  described,    arc    too  high 
and  exaggerated.     If  the   English  and   Scotch  poets  are 
any   criterion  for  descriptive  expressions,  (nnd  that  they 
are  the  true  standard,  all  will  allow,)  so  far  then  from 
being  exaggerated,  the  terms  applied  to  the  Falls  are  but 
tame  and  feeble.     Several  of  the  authors  alluded  to,  have 
afforded  poetical  de8crii)tions  of  v/aterfalls  in  the  United 
Kingdom,  in  which   all  the  epithets  of  beauty  and  ;rran- 
deur  have  been  exhausted  in   the  labored  delineation  — 
descriptions  so  lofty  as  to  leave  nothing  to  add,  even  when 
applied  to  the  Falls  of  Niagara.     Look  at  the  objects  as 
nature  presents  them:  a  brook  or  mill-race,  to  a  mighty 
jiver  — a  pond,  to  an  ocean.     Indeed  there  is  no  term  of 
our  language   too  high,   or  idea  of  our  imagination  ade- 
quately  comprehensive  to  describe  this  profound  and  im- 
pressive scene.     The  mind,  awe-struck,  is  overwhelmfid 
and  lost  amid  the  elemental  strife.     And  it  is  not  only 
so  as  regards  the  Falls,  but  the  whole  of  that  portion  of 
the  Niagara  river,  from  the  commencement  of  the  rapids 
below  Navy  Island,   to  the  eddying  and  heavy  current  at 
Lcwiston,  is,  without  doubt,  one  of  the  most  wonderful 
*l  the  works  of  nature,  and  allords  scenes,  with  but  few 
exceptions,  more  sublime  and  terrible  than  is  exhibited  in 
any  other  land. 

The  travellers  having  now  completed  their  tour  to  all 
the  most  interesting  points  along  the  bank,  conclude  to 
return  to  the  hotel. 


132 


JAUNT    TO    THE    FALLS. 


Villiifrc  of  Niagara  Falls. 


VILLAGE    OF    NIAGAKA    FALLS. 


#;i 


i  I 


". 


!,<»! 


"  JiCail  on  —  to  yonder  village  lead, 
'SVIicre  heaven  lias  liappinCi-s  decreed 

For  tlioye  tlie  blessings  prize  ; 
AViio  Hcnk,  in  'solitary  ease, 
Jsucli  joys  as  innocently  i)lcase, 

Nor  \\i6h  for  other  joys." 

?  In  1805,  Augustus  Porter,  Peter  B.  Porter,  Benjamin 
Barton,  and  Joseph  Aiinin,  Eaqrs.  became,  by  purchase 
of  the  State  of  New- York,  the  proprietors  of  a  considera- 
ble tract  of  land,  lying  immediately  adjacent  to  the  Falls 
of  Niagara.  They  laid  out  a  village,  which  was  called 
Grand  Niagara,  but  was  soon  changed  to  Manchester, 
This  name  it  retained  for  several  years;  but,  as  much  in- 
convenience arose,  from  there  being  several  others  places 
in  the  Slate  of  the  same  name,  it  was  altered  to  Niagara 
Falls,  which  is  the  name  of  the  post  office.  In  1813,  the 
village  was  burnt  by  the  enemy.  After  the  war,  the  citi- 
'^ene  returned,  and  it  has  very  gradually  increased,  since 
then,  in  buildings  and  inhabitants.  In  1836,  the  survey 
of  the  village  was  greatly  extended;  the  lands  became  in 
great  demand,  and  large  sales  could  have  been  made  at 
enormous  prices;  and  some  lots  were  sold. 

The  water  power,  at  this  place,  is  unlimited;  and  at 
some  distant  day  must  come  largely  in  use,  for  manufac- 
turing purposes.  There  is  now  one  large  grist  mill,  two 
saw  mills,  a  woollen  manufactory,  a  trip  hammer  shop, 
furnace,    and   two  machine  shops.      There    is  also,  two 


JAUNT    TO    THE    FALLS. 


133 


VillagRofNiuir.Mru  Falls. 


blacksmiths'  shops,  two  cabinet  makers'  shop,  one  shop 
for  the  manufacture  of  raihoad  cars,  four  merchants' shops; 
one  public  library,  several  splendid  hotels,  and  three  other 
public  houses;  two  public  schools,  one  classical  Institute, 
and  one  select  school  for  young  ladies;  eighty-five  dwel- 
lings of  nil  kinds,  and  upwards  of  seven  hundred  inhabi- 
tants. 

The  location  is  commended  for  its  healthiness,  and  for 
rural  beauty,  it  is  unexcelled.     It  affords  the  finest  places 
for  residences,  for  those  who  wish  to  combine  elegance  of 
scenery  and  salubrity  of  air,  of  any  on  the  Niagara  frontier. 
Nature  has  done  every  thing;  but  as  to  the  village  of  the 
Falls,  man  has  done  but  little.     Attached  to  some  of  the 
houses  are  gardens,  Iruit  yards,  and  some  orchards;  and 
circling  around  are  some  beautiful  native  groves;  but  no 
pains  are  taken  to  remove  rubbish,  open  walks,  or  to  add 
to  the    attractions  of  nature.     As   to  the  width  of  the 
streets,  nice  stone  or  brick  side  walks,  the  banishment  of 
mud   and  nuieances,   each   inhabitant   on    these   subjects 
maintains  a  sturdy  independence  worthy  of  a  better  cause 
and  much  to  the  annoyance  of  fastidious  travellers  who 
have  been  used  to  dry  and  easy  walking.     The  bad  condi- 
tion of  the  streets  is  a  serious  draw-back  on  the  pleasure 
of  visitors  who  happen  at  the  Falls  in  moist  weather,  and 
a  great  pecuniary  loss  to  the  keepers  of  the  hotels,  and 
business   people  of  the  place.      People  will  hurry  away 
when  they  have  but  the  choice  of  two  evils,  to  be  cooped 
up  in  their  rooms  or  to  encounter  wet  and  mud.     More 
money  is  this  way  every  year  lost  to  the   proprietors  of 
the  public   houses,  and  the  villagers,  than  the  necessary 
improvements  would  cost,  if  double  the  value  was  paid  for 
them. 


134 


JAUNT   TO   THE    FALLS. 


Hides  of  IMciisure. 


•il 


wm 


RIDES    OF    PLEASURE. 


,£i-i- 


•*  By  brook  and  river  o'er  the  i)lain, 
Springing  light  tiic  carriai^c  dances  •, 
With  crested  neck  and  flowing  mane, 
Bold  and  (luick  the  gay  horse  prances; 
There's  glowing  clieeks  whose  bcjioty  smiles, 

Cheerful  hearts  with  joy  rebounding ; 
Love  with  his  bewitching  wiles, 
Far  offmusic,  sweetly  sounding." 
I 

A  regular  line  of  Omiribuees  and  pleasure  carriages 
has  been  established  at  the  Falls,  to  run  every  hour  from 
eight  o'clock,  A.  M.  (dining  hours  excepted,)  till  sun- 
down. 

All  the  principal  places  of  interest  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Falls,  too  distant,  and  which  it  would  be  too  fatiguing  for 
pedestrians  to  visit,  are  passed  or  brought  into  view  from 
these  carriages. 

Tickets  arc  obtainable  at    the    "  Whirlpool    Omnibus 

Office"— 

To  the  Mineral  Spring, 

'*  the  Whirlpool  Lodge, 

"  the  Devil's  Hole, 

«•  Old  Portage  Road, 

**  Fort  SchloBser, 

"  Old  French  Landing, 
The  auth  r  closes  this  part  of  his  work  with  the  fol- 
lowing charming  lines,  from  Mr.  Hooker's  Album.     Apro- 
pos —  Mr.  Hooker  should  not  be  forgotten  by  visitors  to 
the  Falla.    He  was  the  first  person  who  became  a  guide 


ill 


JAi;x\T   TO   THE    FALLS. 


135 


Li II fs  from  an  Album. 


0  slrnngore,  and  ho  has  ever  ,lia(,„g„i„l,ecl  himself  by 
h,B  cnre  „„<!  eivility  („  the  l„,lie8  and  gendcmen  vho  have 
engaged  his  aorvicea.  He  haa  g„i,l„l  individual™  from 
airaoat  every  nalinn  on  the  gl„l,o;  Turka,  Jewa,  Greeks 
I  omnns,  Kgyptiana  and  Chinese;  ex-kings,  prinees,  J. 
Wemen;  b.ahopa  and  prieala;  l„on-focos  and  whiga;  besides 
be  '<  iwn  tannys."  IIo  haa  grown  ohi,  bul,  he  is  no,  (he 
less  able  to  aeiuit  himaelf  aatisfaclorily  to  those  who  em 
ploy  him. 


k\ 


NIAGARA    FALLS. 


"  I  lovp  to  pnzc  upon  tiiat  craseless  rush 
Of  waters  ;  for  it  (fotii  raise  my  full  .soul 
To  Iliin   wlio  l)i(i,s  the  deep  in  wihl/iess  flow  ; 
^Vho  h .    -es  the  mighty  flood  from  rock  to  rock 
And  sends  it  dashinfr  to  (he  dark  ahyss,  ' 

Where  it  doth  thunder  forlli  His  //lorious  might 
And  sj)eak  eternally  Jehovali's  j)rui,se.  ' 

Bcarce  less  I  love  to  ?aze  upon  the  circling  foajn 
And  sdv'ry  mist-  for,  on  their  milder  front, 
I  behold  the  sweet  how  of  promise,  arched  — 
That  how,  uJiich,  \^•hen  refnigent  on  his  eyes 
And  first  was  sent  to  cheer  his  heart,  ' 

Who  mourn'd  the  ruins  of  a  world,- to  him 
It  spoke  of  hope,  and  peace,  and  future  calm. 
And,  as  awe  struck,  I  gaze  on  yonder  flood, 
All  terrible  in  wild  sublimity, 
Trembling  I  turn  away:  —  then  do  I  love 
To  fix  my  eyes  on  the  bright  pledge  of  hope 
And  think  that  He  who  gave  it  to  be  oura 
Is  not  a  God  omnipotent  aloue. 
But  is  a  God  of  love  —  eternal  love." 

'Niagara  Falls,  3(1  Aug.  1835." 
12 


wjlf  .■-■*'-• 


mMmmUdA. 


M 


im 


m 


t 


If 


""^StSf^i^'i^tM^ 


i 


m 


!'iii|il!i|!i:iillil!i!'!|!!illiillr 


IRK 


■|t^"^'^il®l:;Vv'^':r,.v''    -t';,'^ 


All 
Or 

There  i 
and  pccul 
attracted  i 
visit,  to  8 
have  an  o 
or,  as  it  i 
since,  a  ] 
island,  an( 
have  giver 
appropriate 
ted. 


A   JA  UNT 


10 


IRIS  AND  OTHER  ISLANDS, 


IN   THE   VICINITY   OF 


NIAGARA    FALLS. 


"  Say,  shalJ  we  wind 
Alonp  the  streams  ?  or  walk  tlie  siuilhig  mead  7 
Or  court  the  foresi  glade  ?  " 

There  are  several  islands,  which,  from  their  locality 
and  peculiar  position  in  reference  to  the  Falls,  have 
attracted  the  attention  and  curiosity  of  strangers;  and  a 
viBit,  to  some  of  them,  is  never  neglected  by  those  who 
have  an  opportunity.  The  one  most  interesting  is  Iris 
or,  as  It  is  commonly  called,  Goat  Island.  Many  years 
8.nce  a  resident  at  Schlosser,  put  some  goats  on  the 
island,  and  hence  the  name.  The  present  proprietors 
bave  given  it  the  name  of  Iris  island.  As  that  is  very 
appropriate,  it  is  proper  that  it  should  be  generally  adop- 


fiBMiilfn-ir.ii'-f 


'J* 


m 


<i   I 


nm 


;  (s| 


ii 


■ii,i  ., 

ilHMl. 


140 


JAUNT   TO   THE    ISLANDS. 


Iris  Islaiul. 


It  lies  in  latitude  43  dog.  G  min.  and  longitude  2  deg. 
5  sec.  west  from  Washington  city;  and  contnins  between 
Bixty  and  seventy  acres.     Though  the  soil  is  an  accumu- 
lation of  earth  upon  a  heap  of  rocks,  yet  it  is  very  fertile, 
producing   all  the  native  plants  of  the  country  in  great 
luxuriance.      A   circuit  round  it,  whicn  visitors  usually 
take,  is  about  a  mile.     By  the  boundary  commissioners, 
who  were  appointed  under  the  treaty  of  Ghent,  it  was 
very   properly  adjudged  to  belong  to  the  United  States; 
and  the  Indian  title  being  extinguished,  it   fell  )nto  the 
•  hands  of  private  individuals.     Just  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
island,  commence  the  terrific  rapids  that  lead  on  to  the 
Falls.     There  the  river  divides;  the  main  body  passing 
on  the  south-western  side,  and  the  lesser  on  the  north- 
eastern.    The  lower  end  of  the    ieland  is  like  the  main 
ehore  below  the  Falls -a  perpendicular  bank,  from  sev- 
enty  to  ninety  feet,  and  thence,  to  the  water's  edge,  a 
sloping  precipice  of  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty  feet.     A  small   portion  of  the   island  has  been 
cleared  off,  and  is  in  a  state  of  cultivation;   but  the  prin- 
cipal part  is  yet  covered  with  native  forest  trees,  of  vari- 
ous kinds:  thro'igh  the  density  of  some  of  which,  when 
covered  with  their  rich  foliage,   the  rays  of  the  sun  are 

seldom  admitted. 

In  making  the  tour  of  the  island,  occasion  will  be 
taken  to  mention  and  describe  such  other  islands  that 
lie  in  the  Niagara  river,  as  have  in  any  way  drawn  thQ 
attention  of  the  public 


^AUNT   TO   THE    ISLANDS. 


141 


Jaunt  to  the  Island. 


JAUNT   TO    THE    ISLAND. 

"  Go  to  the  cool  and  shady  bowers, 

Where  flow  the  wild  cascades  ; 
Stroll  through  each  green  and  deep  recess, 

And  dark  romantic  glades. 
Then,  rest  thee,  on  the  mossy  bank. 

Or  onward  further  stray. 
And  gaze  upon  the  mighty  stream, 

Tliat  winds  its  course  away." 

The  party  leave  the  hotel,  and  turn  down  a  short 
street,  called  Bridge  street.  They  fall  into  conversation 
with  the  guide,  making  Buch  inquiries  of  him  as  are 
usually  interesting  to  travellers,  and  such  as  are 
commonly  made.  The  information  which  follows,  is  in 
answer  to  such  questions: 

Besides  seeing  the  Falls,  travellers,  who  remain  for  any 
length  of  time,  find  various  amusements. 

The  pleasure  Garden,  comprising  about  one  acre  of 
ground,  a  few  rods  south  of  the  Falls,  is  an  attractive 
phce.  It  affords  a  fine  view  of  the  Falls,  and  the  enter- 
tainments offered  by  the  proprietor  are  of  a  very  superior 
order;  and  especially  his  evening  exhibitiors  of  fire-works. 
For  variety  and  brilliancy  they  are  unsurpassed. 

For  those  who  like  in-door  exercise,  there  is  a  ball  or 
ten-pin  alley.  There  is,  also,  in  the  village,  got  up 
exclusively  for  the  use  of  travellers,  several  billiard 
tables. 

There  is  a  library;  and  at  another  place  a  reading-room; 
but  the  locality  itself,  in  general,  affords  abundant  amuse- 
ment for  several  days. 
12* 


.m^-^-^-M 


(  'I 


^     '1 


142 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


AmiiscincnlH. 


Some  rcaorl  to  tho  buths  :  olliers  hnlhe  in  the  river. 
Some  amuse  themselves  in  fiehing  ;  others  in  fowhng, 
nnd  in  seeking  after  <ho  great  bald  eagb\  Some  of  tho 
noblcat  of  the  species  have  been  found  in  this  quarter; 
specimens  of  which  are  to  be  seen  at  Mr.  Burnet's  mu- 
seum, in  Canada. 

The  generality  of  travellers  ride  to  those  places  which 
it  has  become  fashionable  to  visit.  Old  Fort  Schlosser, 
up  the  river  —  the  mineral  spring  —  the  Whirlpool  — 
the  Tuscaroras  Indian  village  —  iuid  Fort  Niagara. 

Besides  these,  considerable  time  may  be  spent  most 
pleasantly  in  a  trip  to  Canada. 

On  Sunday,  some  travellers  go  to  church,  in  the  vil- 
lage; others  go  to  the  meeting-htuse  of  the  Indians;  some 
ride  to  the  places  mentioned;  and  some  promenade  round 
the  island  and  FalU\ 

The  party  are  descending  a  small  declivity,  towards  the 
bridge,  ^o  the  ipland. 

Traveller.—  '*  Indeed,  this  prospect  is  very  grand;  those 
majestic  waves,  bounding  aiul  curving  along,  and  that 
bridge  lying  at  rest  over  them  !  Here  is  nature,  in  all 
her  might;  and  the  art  of  man  triumphing  over  obstacles 
appearing  almost  insurmountable." 


lsnI;* 


'fm 


THE    BRIDGE    TO    THE    ISLAND. 


The  construction  of  this  bridge  appeared  almost  incre- 
dible to  an  individual  who  happened  to  be  at  this  place 
when  the  work  was  going  forward.     One  or  two  of  the 


JAfJXT   TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


143 


Uri(l^-o  lo  the  Inland. 


Piers  only  were  laid  d,»vvn.  He  c.quirod  of  the  w,)rkmen 
the  object  of  the  bridge,  and  to  where  it  was  going.  '*  To 
the  island,"  was  the  reply.  ''  J  don't  want  lo  hvo  any 
longer,"  said  the  stranger,  '<  than  until  yon  get  this  bridge 
to  the  island."  He  could  not  be  convinced  that  its  con- 
el  ruction  was  practicable. 

It  was  built  by  first  erecting  piers  near  the  shore;   long 

timbers  wore  then  projected  beyond  thein.     After  which, 

two  substantial  posts  or  duds  were  let  down,  and  rested 

on  the  bottom,  at  the  end  of  the  projecting  timbers,  which 

were  firmly  secured  to  them,  and  supported  them,  until 

a  small  crib  filled  with  stone?,  was  sunk.     Then  the  large 

timbers  for  the  piers  were  framed,  put  down,  and  fastened 

to  the  small  crib.     They  were  then   filled  with  stones, 

the  string  pieces  put  on,  and  the  planks  laid.     After  one 

pier  and  bent  were  completed  in  this  manner,  the  long 

timbers   were  again   moved    forward,   and  another,   and 

another,  constructed,  until  the  whole  were  finished.    The 

projectors  were  Judge  Porter  and  his  brother.  Gen.  Porter, 

who  are  the  owners  of  the  island.     The  original  cost  of 

the  bridge  was  only  about  sixteen  hundred  dollars. 

The  first  bridge  erected  to  the  island,  in  1817,  was 
built  further  up  the  river,  opposite  to  the  residence  of 
Judge  Porter.  The  winter  after  its  erection,  in  1818,  it 
was  carried  away  by  the  ice,  and  in  the  following  summer 
a  bridge  was  built  on  the  present  site,  passing  to  Bath 
island.  In  1839  it  was  rebuilt;  its  present  construction 
is  more  firm  and  substantial  than  the  first. 

The  erection  of  this  bridge  has  universally  received  the 
commendation  of  travellers.  It  enables  them,  with  a  tri- 
fling expense,  to  visit  the  island  with  safety  and  conven- 


144 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


Hcd  .Tiickel. 


ience;  on  undertaking  which,  before,  was  attended  with 
considerable  expense,  and  some  exposure  to  danger.  It 
has  thrown  open  to  the  piibhc  view,  one  of  the  wonders 
of  the  world,  which,  to  the  greatest  propoKion  of  visitors, 
could  only  be  seen  at  a  distance. 

The  income  of  the  bridge  is  considerable,  but  no  more 
than  a  fair  return  for  such  a  work.  Too  much  credit 
cannot  be  bestowed  upon  the  genius  that  suggested  the 
project,  and  so  substantially  executed  it. 

The  celebrated  Indian  Chief,  Red  Jacket,  passed  over 
the  bridge  with  one  of  the  proprietors,  shortly  after  it 
was  completed.  His  sinister  feelings  towards  white  men, 
and  his  envy  of  their  superiority  over  his  brothers  of  the 
forest,  arc  well  known.  As  he  walked  along,  the  min- 
gled emotions  of  hate,  envy,  and  admiration,  which 
rankled  in  his  bosom,  wore  expressed  every  little  while, 
as  he  looked  on  the  dashing  waters,  firm  piers,  and  se- 
cure  superstructure,    with  '' Yankee,"  *' 

Yankee,"  applying  an  epithet  not  proper  to  mention, 
though  easily  guessed, — one  demonstrative  more  of  spite 
than  good  will. 

Arriving  at  Bath  island,  the  travellers  ascend  the  bank, 
enter  the  toll- house,  and  pay  the  charge  of  twenty-five 
cents  each;  which  gives  the  individual  the  privilege  of 
visiting  the  island  during  his  stay  at  the  Falls,  or  at  any 
time  thereafter  for  the  current  year. 


v!l 


JAUNT   TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


145 


litnh  LsJuikI. 


BATH    ISLAND. 


Sounds 


•Tlip  isle  is  full  of  noises, 


tliat  f^'ivc  (]olij,'lit,  and  hurt  not." 

A  traveller  thus  speaks  of  this  island:  "  It  is  itself  a 
curiosity  worth  bcholdin^r.  To  visit  this,  alone,  would 
be  worth  the  c()j.^t  of  the  bridge  which  leads  to  it.  Why- 
it  18  a  perfect  chaos  !  How  the  waters  ru.h  and  roar 
nlong,  beating  vainly  against  the  impregnable  rock  to 
which  it  is  fast  bound.  Those  trees  and  green  patches; 
the  broken  surface  and  firm  roeka  arc  all  in  unison  with 
each  other.  Nature  has  charms  here,  amid  the  boister- 
ous waters  of  the  Niagara,  that  I  little  imagined." 

On  the  south  side  of  the  island  is  a  pap^r  manufactory, 
bclongmg  to  the  Mos^rs.  Porters.  It  is  one  of  the  lar- 
gest and  best  conducted  in  western  New- York,  and  in 
which  paper  is  made  with  machinery,  of  the  latest  im- 
provement. The  rags  are  put  in  the  engine,  and  are 
passed  out  through  the  machinery,  in  one  continuous 
eheet  of  paper,   dry  and  finished  for  use. 

The  islands  observed  just  above  Bath  island,  are  Sloop 
nnd  Brig  islands.  A  foot  bridge  formerly  extended  to 
them,  and  they  were  a  favorite  resort  of  visitors  in  tho 
warm  afternoons  of  summer.  The  shade  of  the  trees, 
the  commotion  of  the  surrounding  water,  and  the  cool 
breeze  that  constantly  agitates  the  air,  make  them,  for 
social  parties,  a  delightful  retreat  for  an  hour  or  two. 
Having  passed,  with  much  admiration,  the  bridge  which 


■;i: 


AipBaiiwnrrr 


146 


JAUNT   TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


Aiiipriwui  Flag  placed  in  llif*  Hapitis. 


spans  the  beautiful  and  rai)id  piece  of  water  which  courses 
along,  between  Bath  and  Iris  islands,  they  arrive  upon 
the  latter  inland. 

Before  the  bridge  was  built,  Iris  island  was  visited  by 
boats,  running  down  between  the  two  currents,  to  the 
upper  point  of  the  island.  To  strangers,  the  navigation 
appeared  very  hazardous,  and  it  was  not  without  danger. 

In  the  severe  win1;-^r  of  182!),  the  great  accumulation  of 
ice  in  the  river,  formed  a  communication  from  the  main 
shore  to  the  island;  and,  though  the  bridges  were  then 
"built,  yet  many  persons,  for  curiosity  and  a  ramble,  pre- 
ferred crossing  over  on  the  ice.  In  that  winter,  all  the 
adjacent  islands  were  accessible,  and  were  visited  by  many 
persons;  and  the  American  flog  was  planted  on  a  ledge  of 
rocks  in  the  middle  of  the  stream  above  Brig  island. 
There,  surrounded  by  the  dashing  waves,  it  floated  gal- 
lantly during  the  succeeding  aummcr,  to  the  admiration 
and  wonder  of  strangers,  of  how  it  came  there. 


A    DARING    ENTERPRISE. 


"  From  a  lioy, 

I  wantoned  with  thy  breakers  —  they  to  me 
AVere  a  delight." 


The  most  hardy  and  daring  enterprise  known  of  lafe 
years  to  have  been  performed  upon  the  rapids  of  the  Nia- 
frara.  was  undertaken  bv  Mr.  Joel  R.  Robinson  and  Mr. 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


147 


A  Slory. 


John  Smith.     There  was  observed  to  be  in  the  river  be- 
low  Bath  island,  hanging  to  the  rocks,  and  waving  in  the 
water,  something  that  had  the  appearance  of  cotton  cloth. 
These  persons  got  a  boat,  and  launched  it  in   the  river 
near  the  paper  mill  floom.     Robinson  was  to  manage  the 
boat,  and  Smith  to  secure  the  prize.     TI.ey  succerded  in 
gomg  very  near  the  point,  of  the  island  which  lies  to  the 
southwest  of  Bath  island,  and  just  above  the  Falls.     They 
secured  two  pieces  of  domestic  sher    ngs,  and  returnod  in 
safety,  Robmson  having  managed  the  boat  over  the  driving 
and  impetuous  water  in  perfect  self-possession,  and  with 
apparent  ease. 

Iris   island   had  often  been  visited  both  by  the  French 
and  English,  previous  to  the  Americans  coming  in  pos- 
session.     The  initials  of  names  have  been  found  u^ion  the 
trees  bearing  a  date  as  far  back  as  1742.     In  an  old  En'^- 
hsh  magazine,  it  is  related,  that  on  a  time,  two  Indians 
were,  by  accident,  cast  ou  the   island.     Thr  v  made  ropes 
of  the  bark  of  trees,  and  passed  down  the  lower  bank  to 
the  river,  but  being  afraid  to  enter  in  between  the  two 
sheets  ot  water,  returned.     An  ingenious    French  black- 
smith, belonging  to  a  corps  of  artificers,  who  were  then  in 
this  quarter,  seeing  their  suffering  and  perilous  condition, 
constructed  a   pair  of  stilts,  by  which  means   he   passed 
over  safely  to  them,  carrying  them  over  supplies;  and  by 
the  same  means  finally  succeeded  in  getting  them  off. 
The  story  is  doubted,  but  it  is  not  altogether  incredible, 
borne  years  ago,  the  construction  of  a  bridge  over  the 
roughest  part  of  the  river,  to  the  same  place,  would  have 
been  considered  more  impracticable  than  the  performance 
juat  mentioned. 


■m 

m 

.vHOi 

1 

■ 

148 


JAUNT   TO  THE    ISLANDS. 


The  (Jrove  —  Ho^'h  Back. 


On  ascending  the  hill,  from  the  bridge,  three  walks 
arc  presented  :  one  to  the  right,  leading  to  the  Biddlo 
Btair-cnse  and  to  the  Horse  Shoe  Fall;  the  one  in  Ironi, 
goes  directly  across  the  island;  and  the  one  to  the  left, 
passes  near  the  edge  of  the  bank,  to  the  upper  end. 

The  party  continue  the  jaunt,  taking  the  road  leading 
to  the  Biddle  stair-case.  It  is  the  course  usually  taken. 
On  advancing  a  short  distance,  they  enter  a  lofty  grove 
of  trees,  through  which  the  walk  passes  for  some  distance. 
It  is  one  of  those  delicious  places  for  which  nature  has 
done  every  thing,  and  to  which  art  can  add  nothing.  Tho 
road  that  passes  tbrough  it,  accouii)lit<hcs  all  that  ever 
should  be  done,  nnd  the  sound  of  the  axe  should  never  bo 
heard  upon  these  trees,  to  disturb  the  stillness  which 
reigns  around  this  spot,  or  to  profane  what  nature  seems 
to  have  consecrated. 

As  the  road  nears  the  lower  end  of  the  island,  the 
height  of  the  bank,  from  the  edge  of  the  water,  increases; 
from  which  circumstance,  it  appears,  this  part  of  the  isl- 
and has  received  the  name  of  the  Hog's  Back.  The  name 
is  considered  very  inapplicable;  but,  as  some  travellers 
have  spoken  of  the  Hog's  Back,  as  being  something  pecu- 
liar, it  has  been  thought  proper  thus  succinctly  to  refer 
to  it. 

At  the  northwest  corner  of  the  island  there  is  a  fine 
prospect  of  the  river,  of  Canada,  and  of  the  American 
Falls,  suitably  so  termed,  aR  they  are  entirely  within  the 
United  States.  The  actual  boundary  is  in  the  centre  of 
the  river,  between  the  island  and  Canada,  and  must  be 
about  the  middle  of  the  Horse  Shoe  Falls.  By  some  means 
or  other,  the  public  have  been  led  into  a  mistalce  on  this 


.TAITNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


149 


Trosppct  Ixland. 


tbo  Falls  ,«  e.velu6,vcly  i„  ,ho  State  of  Now- York,  and 
»o    d   of  the  n,„i„  ehannol,  as  it  eonsti.utea  the    „„„ 


rnOSPECT    ISLAND. 


"Whore  Icfips 

The  torrent  in  io  wihl  oaroer, 
While  sliake  its  l)arricr.s,  as>  in  fear," 

From  the  point  of  Iris   i.lnnd,  fronting   the  Americ«n 
Fa  Is  descends  a  path  towards  P,ospect  idond,  sometimes 
ca  ed  Mrs.  Davis's  isia  id.  as,  wh,!e  she  was  visiting  the 
l-alls,  a  foot  bridge  was   thrown   o/er  to  it,  and  on  its 
extreme  point  she  planted  a  few  seeds  of  the  everlasting 
pea,  which  were  observed  some  years  afterwards  in  bloom 
with  their  beautiful  little  flowers  hanging  over  the  side  of 
the  bank,  near  the  Cave  of  the  Winds.     The  bridge    to 
this  island,  is  generally  carried  away  in  the  winter,  and 
replaced  again  in  the  summer.     It  is  worth  crossing  over, 
to  ramble  through  the  tangled  evergreens,  to  look  down 
the  hi^gh  bank,  and  enjoy  the  prospect  which  is  there  dis- 

13 


:| 


150 


AM  XT  TO  THK  IST.ANDS. 


Iii),'r»lianiN  Cnvc. 


IN  GRAHAM  S  CAVE. 


«« The  weeping  rocks  ilislil,  with  coiiHlMnt  Hpwh  ; 
Tlie  gushiiiK  waters  lienwivc  ihuuglits  infuse. 
Here  a  viist  iirrli,  the  cavity  so  wide, 
Scarce,  can  the  oyc  rvtciid  from  side  lo  side, 
lliflli  o'er  tlie  roof  iillernalc  echoes  wave, 
And  sound  in  distant  tliunders,  tlirough  the  cave." 

This  cave  was  first  discovered  by  .Joseph  W.  In  graham, 
Esq.  who  gave  it  the  name  of  the  Cave  of  the  Winds,  one 
as  applicable  as  any  that  can  be  u^cd;  yet,  the  public,  dc- 
sirous  to  award  some  meed  of  tb-  .r  esteem  to  the  amiable 
discoverer,  have,  in  many  instances,  evinced  a  desire  to 
use  his  name,  and  call  it  Ingraham's  Cave.     It  was  tirst 
entered  by  Mr.  George  Sims  and  Mr.  Berry  Hill  White, 
of  Niagara  Falls  village.     They  passed  over  the  rooks,  and 
through  a  port  of  the  sheet  of  water.    It  was,  they  alleged, 
difficult  and  hazardous,  but  they  acknowledged  theii.pelvcs 
fully  rewarded  in  thn  new  and  magnificent  scene  which 
the  lofty  cavern  presented.    Mr.  Ingraham  soon  afterwards 
visited  it  himself,  and  Horatio  A.  Parsons,  Esq.  and  a  few 
others,  have  since  ventured  in.     It  is  represented  to  be 
near  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  wide,  about  thirty  feet 
deep,  and  a  noble  arch   hanging  ov.  r  head   eighty  feet 
high,  and  the  sheet  of  water  rolling  in  front. 

It  is  said  to  be  quite  a;i  adventure  to  go  imder  Table 
Rock:  it  is  a  much  greater  one,  to  visit  this  cavern. 

The  following  beautiful  lines  are  taken  from  Mr.  Hook- 
er's Album: 


m' 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 

Tije  Ilid.iie  ?<lnir-fase. 


151 


••  Dread  awe-inspirinjf  cavorri !     '^fMnj?  f|,n  new 
AVild,  wond-roiKs  ol.je.l.s  tli;,t  around  I  view  ' 
None  «irikrs  my  houI  like  th.o  !    Thou  .cn'st  .u  aio 
1  he  very  porlal  of  Huhlm.iiy  ! 
And  naiurc_:,.s  if  dr.-:..|i)i-r  ,„  expose 
The  hidden  aiyslerir;..  ,.t  lir-r  ini-nv  tliroes- 
Hath  (hrovvn  over  thee  a  wi.ie  .pread,  henuteou«  veil. 

M  oven  fro,n  ,he  nir-hnn.  wat.rs-    ..atched  fro,u  out 
Their  wonted  ,  .lani.el  f.ir  this  stronj,' avail - 

A,uJ  dyed  it  with  the  lovelirst  tints  fhro..irh„,u  - 
K  en  trin^'cd  it  with  a  rainlx.w  !     ?,li.Hity  eavr  • 
What  shall  we  call  the  7     VVh.t  ..a.ne  ^ould'st  thou  have 
More  ht  ih;u.  las,  who  (irst  ,hy  depth     lid  scan  - 
Ftrst  oje'd  thy  rocky  doorn  to  w  „„d'ruig  inun  7 
^  es  :    «  hile  Dene  u  w.ds  thy  viuilie.i  arches  sv.  eep 
And  thy  wiM  shores  the  ru.lnu^  waters  lave,        ' 
Or  thiiidcr  there  terrific  xi'jlU  keep,— 
He  thon  forever  known  as  Inoraium's  (kve  \ 

A.  H.  P.,  of  Georgia." 


f 


'  ( 


THE    BIDDLE    STAIE-CASE. 

The  pnrfy,  after  (heir  progress  to  Prospect  island,  re- 
trace their  steps,  and  coi,'  nue  their  route  to  the  Bddle 
stnir-cnsc.     This  convenience,   for  deecendin;    the  bank 
was  erected  at  the  expense  of  Nicholas  Biddle,  Esq.     \i 
was  a  great  desideratum  to  travellers,  to  be  enable  to  reach 
th's  part  of  the  island,  to  range  niong  over  the  rocks,  and 
to  advance  near  the  sheets  of  water.     The  stairs  are  of  the 
spiral  form,  well  secured  from  the  weather,  and  about 


152 


JAINT    TO    TilK    ISLANDS. 


llornc  f*\\ov.  Fulls. 


i'i<,'lily  ftM-l  bifih.  Near  (ho  fi>ot  of  those  staira,  at  the 
(•(Ijrc  of  Iho  wiitrr,  Sam.  Patch,  in  1H:J!),  nimlc  two  lea^  a 
from  n  plnlform,  iiinoty-acvcn  feet  hiuh,  orccted  for  the 
p\ir|)o.sc.  Sum.  cnmc  oil"  with  credit,  lion";  hut  shortly 
aflor,  tlio  poor  foUow  mmlo  two  lonprf  nt  Ilochostor,— ono 
from  the  hoi^ht  of  oiio  hiuidroil  foot,  ami  tho  othor  of  one 
huiidroi]  ajid  twonly-livo  foot.  Tho  Kiat  provod  fatal;  he 
(lid  not  vmif  ami  was  novor  found. 

Aftor  tho  travoliorti  have  proceeded  below,  and  gone,  na 
near  the  slioots  of  vvat(.'r  on  each  side  as  they  dobired,  and 
had  pointed  out  to  thom  all  tho  ohjoota  of  interest,  they 
return,  and  resume  thoir  walk  alonj,'  tho  brow  of  the  bank. 


m^s 


m 


,  sii 


I 


SHUI't    l.ii 


1% 


THE    HORSE    SHOE    FALLS. 


"  TIiou  foiirfiil  slrcani '. 


llnw  do  tliy  terrors  tour  me  I'roiu  niy  myself, 
And  till  my  rfoul  with  wonilor  !"' 

This  sublime  prospect  opens  to  view  suddenly,  between 
the  trees,  'j  he  rainbow,  seen  below,  encompassing  a 
obuul  of  pprcy,  is  as  beautiful,  with  all  its  mellow  tints  of 
coloring,    as  the   same  oi)jecL    appears  after  a  summer's 

ebowcr. 

The  rainbows  are  seen  according  to  the  position  of  tho 
spectator  with  that  of  the  sun.  In  the  morning,  they  are 
viewed  from  this  side;  in  the  afternoon  from  the  British 
Bide.  At  night,  when  the  moon  shines  brightly,  a  lunar 
bow  encircles  the  Falls,  with  rays  well  defined,  but  pale 


,  at  the 
'o  lea^s 
for  tbfi 
shortly 
r, —  one 
r  of  one 
iitiil;  he 

gono,  na 
reel,  and 
at,  they 
be  bnnk. 


between 
^inssing  a 
V  tints  of 
uimmer's 


on  of  the 
,  they  are 
le  British 
y,  a  lunar 
but  pale 


jfAuxTjro  Tin:  r.srA\i)s. 

IVcispcci  'I'owor. 


153 


«nd   murky.     0„  ,„,„    ,„•,.„,,    ,,,,,    „,,,.,  ,^ 

congregnfe  on   the  inlnn.!.  nn<l  nuU ,o|.  .,Mu.J^^Z 

to  pervade  every  bo.on..     The  mind  ..t.ellv    ;i  1  7 
sentiment  of  the  jmet  —  ^  ^"^ 

How  many  .-.r.Ml.c  scenes  of  woe  on  which         ' 
Ihy  pureli;fht  Ijeamctli !" 

Tlie  cnr«,,(..rc.,l  8e,„i„„,„|„li«i  lingers  around  this  scene, 

becomes  wrapped  in  sad  „„.,  „nwo„,ed  n.editations.     The 
great  F„l  s,  rhe  lovely  „,„„„  conr.ins  i.s   way  throjh 

act,   the  sombre  woods,  ,bc  deep  n.yslcrious  s„lf,  the 
™hmg  waters,  all  eon.bine  powerfully  ,o  affect  the  mind 
^o  no,sy  conviviali.y,  no  boisterous  mirtb  prevails  at  such 
;;n.c.  and  ,»s.u.d  is  beard  e.eept  the  de^^ 

In  the  centre  of  the  Hor.e  Shoe  Fails,  the  wafer  is  of 
feerde,.r™  "'"'  ""''  ''  '"'^'"'^'"''  '"  '"'  "■"""  '^^^'^ 


PROSPECT    TOWER. 

Jtl^  K  .""■"■'f  '""■'*"°"'  *■■'"■  ""  «''«"vafory  on  the 

op,  budl  below  the  point  of  the  island,  among  the  Ter- 

r.pm  rocks.      From  the  observatory   is  presented  a  full 


I 


M 


I 


m 


154 


JAUNT   TO   THE    ISLANDS. 


Impressions  of  Visitors. 


•^reat  Falls,  O'ld  into  the 


view  into  the  very  midst  o 
great  chasm  below. 

♦♦  It  l)ul)l)lc3  up,  it  fiurgles  fortu,  .1  hisses  and  it  roars, 
As  when  on  nitfiiiK  fire  a  stream  of  Rushing  water  pours  ; 
Wild  sheets  of  foam  shoot  throu</h  the  air,  waves  thunder 

towards  heaven, 
As  forth  from  out  the  hlack  abyss  the  hiUowy  flood  ia  driven." 

The  timber  and  fragments  that  are  scattered  around, 
are  the  remains  of  a  bridge,  built  by  Gen.  Whitney,  a 
part  of  which  projected  over  the  bank.  It  was  on  a 
single  projecting  timber  of  this  bridge,  that  it  was  usual 
for  Francis  Abbott  to  walk,  and,  at  the  extreme  end, 
turn  on  his  heel  and  walk  back. 

The  Terrapin  bridge  should  be  re-built.  It  afforded  an 
unqualled  prospect  into  the  white  and  misty  chasm.  And 
to  spectators  at  a  distance,  the  ligiit  bridge  hanging  over 
the  clouds  and  rainbow  below;  the  moving  forms  upon  it, 
ourrounded  by  the  flickering  spray;  now  seen,  and  anon 
hid  from  view,  gave  to  the  scene  an  impressive  interest 
deeply  felt  by  every  sentimental  mind. 


THE    IMPRESSIONS    OF    VISITORS. 

"  When  nature's  might  some  wond'rous  scene  unfolds, 
And  awe-struck  man  the  glorious  work  oeholds, 
In  silence  fix'd  —  th'  enrapt  imagination  — 
More  than  loud  words,  shows  forth  its  admiration." 

It  is  frequently  inquired,  what  are  the  usual  impies- 
sions  of  visitors?    They  are  various.    A  very  few  think 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


155 


I'aiiiftil  iiii|)rrs.sioii. 


I>ghtly  of  ihc  FnllB,  or  oxprc.s  .urpri«e  that  others  are  so 
absorbed  n,Kl  pleased  with  them.  Sueh  persons  usually 
remark,  '^  Is  this  „Il7  I  b,„ve  been  deceived!"  or  the  cii- 
max  of  their  admiration  is  cxprosyed  in  — 

"  Oh !  wli.-it  !i  place  to  sponge  a  coat  :'♦ 

Some  are  so  much  moved,  as  to  form  a  lasting  adaeh- 
ment,  and  visit  Ihem  ofien,  even  from  great  distances. 
Others  have  been  completely  iufatuated,  and  seem  only 
1o  bye  in  beholding  this  subli.ne  work  of  nature,  and  in 
inhnhng  the  pure  though  mist-imprognated  atmosphere, 
which  arises  from  the  broken  v/aters. 

Some  look  upon  the  Falls  with  fl'elings  of  dread,  and 
the  impressions  they  leave  on  their  minds,  are  those  of 
terror.  Many  years  since,  when  travelling,  I  fell  in  with 
n  party  at  a  public  house.  Niagara  Falls  happened  to  be- 
come a  topic  of  conversation.  '^  The  Falls,"  said  a  lady 
who  was  present,  "  I  saw  them  three  months  ago,  and 
neither  sleeping  or  waking,  are  they  out  of  my  mind.  1 
hear  them  roar,  and  see  them  before  me  continually." 

"Is  their  impression  painful  or  pleasant  ?"  I  enqm'red. 
"  Oh,  very  painful  and  distressing  1  They  are  dread* 
ful !"  was  her  reply. 

When  a  party  of  Indians,  from  the  far  west,  were  on 
their  return  from  Washington,  they  were  brought  this 
way.  When  they  saw  the  Falls,  they  evinced  emotions 
of  reverence,  and  cast  their  pipes,  wampum,  and  several 
trinkets,  in  the  water,  as  offerings  to  the  Mighty  Spirit 
of  the  place. 

Many  gentlemen  have  expressed  themselves  as  expe- 


li 


P'fli 


JMMtiiii'.' 


•.mi 


156 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


Winter  scciicM. 


riencing  very  strange  Bcnsations,  while  l)eholding  the 
Falls.  Fear  —  a  perception  ot  weakness  —  trembling  of 
the  nerves;  but  the  predominant  sensations  are  those  of 

reverence. 

Traveller.—"  Siu-h  ecnsntionR  are  becoming  the  place; 
for  who  can  look  upon  the.^o  rising  cloud?,  this  rush  of 
many  waters,  these  walls  of  rolid  rock,  and  this  abyss 
of  foam,  without  reverencing  Iliin  who  made  them,  and 
upholds  them  still." 


«i:     1 


WINTER    SCENERY. 


»'  Who  c;in  ]);iint 


Like  nature?    Lisn  iniagiiiiition  boast, 
Amid  its  gay  oreution,  liuc^i  like  hers  ?" 

The  Falls,  in  winter,  present  a  very  different  appear- 
ance from  that  of  any  oUicr  t^caaon  of  the  year.  Large 
quantities  of  ice  accumulate  in  the  river  below,  which, 
gradually  gathering  in  the  eddies  with  that  which  is 
brought  from  above,  join  together,  and  form  a  natural 
bridge.  This  bridge  of  iee  extends,  frequently,  to  within 
n  short  distance  of  the  sheet  of  water,  hnd  to  the  rapids, 
two  miles  below.  It  is  in  places  from  twenty  to  forty 
feet  thick.     On  the  rocks,  such  large  quantities  of  snow 


JAUNl    TO    THE    ISLAN- 


DS. 


157 


AVinter  sfoiierv, 


nml  con^rcalcd  nnst  collect,  ns  to  form  pyramids,  reaching 
nlrnost  to  the  upper  surface  of  the  Falls.     On  the  perpen- 
diculur  banks  are  sKspcnded  huge  icicles,   of  the  most 
fanciful  shapes,  which  are  white  as  alabaster,  and  appear 
at   a  distance   like  magnificent  columns.     But  the  most 
beautiful  sight  iB  the  spray  congealed  upon  the  surroun- 
Jl-ng  trees  and   shrubs.     Every  branch  is  incrustcd.     It 
looks  like  a  forest  of  coral,  but   of  dazzling   whiteness. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  day,  iii  winter,  when  tiie  rays 
oi  the  dcchiiing  sun  passes  through    the  rising  cloud  of 
inist,  ,t  appears  as  if  tinged  with  burnished  gold,  or  as 
a  bnghi  flame  of  fire,  floating  in  mid  air.     This,  with  the 
trees,  in  their  dress  of  perfect  whiteness,  makes  the  scene 
80  novel,  so  strange,   that  it  appears  like  fairy-work,  or 
a«  one  of  ern-hnntment.     Nothing  is  wanted  but  the  ice 
palace  of  Cat.nrine  of  Russia,  to  make  it  like  a  perfect 
winter  paradise   to  the  e.vc.     The  eye  only  can   be  de- 
..ghted;   to   every  other  sense,  it  is   the  very  essence  of 
frost  and  cold -of  vaix>r  and  glittering  snow;  a  meet 
place  for  ancient  winUr'a  mint 

Travellers  who  have  visited  the  Falls,  in  the  winter 
say  that  when  the  tree,  are  thus  arrayed,  the  views  affor- 
ded are  superior  to  those  of  summer,  .fust  to  look  on, 
for  a  short  period,  it  is,  indeed,  unequalled;  but  you  must 
Boon  hurry  away  to  the  warm  rooms  of  the  hotel.  lu 
summer,  you  can  ramble  through  the  groves,  wh^re  na- 
turc  IS  clothed  in  her  beautiful  dre.s  of  green;  then,  you 
pass  from  scene  to  seem?- ''all  nature  smiles."  Noth- 
ing can  compaie  with  the  beauty  as  well  as  gi-andcur  <^ 
this  place  while  summer  holds   her  cheerful  aiid  iiapuy 


rcign. 


iMfeU 


.*  '11 


iim 


158 


JAUNT   TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


&!hriil)s  and  PlautH  — InsectH. 


Ml.  ! 


SHRUBS    AND    PLANTS. 

«  F>UTimcr !  doliclods  summer  !  Ihou  dost  fling 
Thy  unbouglit  treasures  o'er  the  glorious  earth « 
Music  iH  in  thy  step,  and  m  thine  eye 
Afloodofsunsliine!    On  thy  brow  is  wreathed 
GarhmdH  that  wither  not,  and  in  thy  breath 
Are  all  the  perf.mics  of  Arabia !" 

It  has  been  reported,  that  there  are  many  plants  found 
*  on  Iris  island,  not  commoti  to  the  surrounding  country. 
This  is  not  correct;  but  there  iff,  certainly,  in  the  small 
space  of  the  island,  a  greater  varicly  of  plants  to  be  ob- 
tained, than  at  any  other  place.  For  this  reason,  many 
visitors  are  in    the   practice  of  collecting    her])arium8  of 

such  as  they  fancy. 

There  is  one  peculiarity  reputed  of  this  island,  which 
is  a  desideratum  vainly  desired  at  many  places.  It  is, 
that  there  are  here  no  musketoes,  or  other  insects,  to  an- 
noy or  interrupt  the  rcpoee  of  those  who  seek  these  se- 

eluded  bowers. 

This  has  been  contradicted  ;  but,  in  support  of  the 
assertion,  an  individual,  who  has  resided  for  over  twenty 
years  at  the  Falls,  states  that,  during  that  time,  he  hua 
not  seen  a  dozen  musketoes,  nor  been  bit  by  one;  and 
that  he  has  often  visited  the  island,  and  never  observed 
an  insect  of  this  description  on  it. 

The  party,  in  advancing  along  the  path,  by  the  side 
of  the  river,  come  to  a  place  where  the  walk  is  suddenly 
terminated  by  the  caving  in  of  the  bank. 


fl 

■  ,1 

11 

i 

i   , 

i 

:  f 

JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


159 


Vessels  sent  over  the  P\ill.s. 


The  river,  at  this  spot,  has  made  advances  on  the 
shore  several  hundred  feet ;  and  the  road,  which  a  few 
years  ago  was  made  to  encircle  the  island,  is  here  for 
some  distance  washed  away.  The  water  is  continuing 
lis  devastating  power,  most  forcibly.  A  large  piece  of 
the  island  will  soon  lie  carried  over  the  Falls,  or  a  new 
channel  will  be  formed,  dividing  it  in  two. 


VESSELS    SENT    OVER    THE    FALLS. 

"  Like  thee,  full  man)-  a  frallant  bark 
Ha.stes  on  its  faterl  way  ; 
The  wave,  the  jrulf,  tJie  cavern  dark, 
Ope'  to  receive  tJieir  prey," 

The  party,  being  on  a  position  that  commanded  a  view 
«>l  the  vessels  going  down  Ihe  river,  and  passing  over  the 
i^alls,  some  account  of  them  is  usually  requested.     The 
schooner  Michigan,  an  old  merchant  vessel,  of  lake  Erie 
was    dismantled,    with  the    exception  of  the  masts,  and 
iiggmg  enough  to  hold  them  up,  and  sent  over  in  Sep- 
tember,  1827;  and  the  Superior  was  sent  over  in  Octo- 
ber,  two  years  after.     Thoy  were  towed  to  the  centre  of 
he  stream,    between    Navy  islan,]  mid   Canada,  and  let 
loose.     The   Michigan  came  maje;.(ically  along;  figurcB, 
representing  men,  were  placed  at  proper  stations,  and  a 
number  of  animals,    both   domestic   and  wild,  were    on 
board. 


V 


160 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


Vessels  pnssiMKovcr  llif  I-'iil!  -. 


The  putting  of  nnimals  on  board,  lor  cerlnin  destruc- 
tion, for  mere  nmuscmcnt,  was  not  generally  approved; 
but,  in  extenuation,  it  was  eaid  that  none  had  been  taken 
but  the  useless  and  vicious,  and  euch  as  would  have  been 
destroyed,  if  they  had  not  been  Beieclcd  for  this  purpose. 

Onward  the  vessel  floated,  the  river  was  smooth,  and 
all  was  quiet  on  board.     The  poor  animals,  having  been 
tormented  as  they  had  passed  through  the  hands  of  the 
vicious  and  unfeeling,  tired  and  worn  out,  had  laid  them- 
selves on  the  deciw  and  in  corners,  to  rest.     She  arrived 
at  the  first  descending  swell,  and  passed  down  gallantly. 
All  was  yet  in  repose  on  board;  she  came  to  a  more  ra- 
pid descent;  was  tossed  to  and  fro,  and  the  animals  were 
Been  running  about  from  one  place  to  another.     Bruin 
was  more  actively  engaged  than  others,  amid   the  doom- 
ed   throng,    he  took    an    observation   from  the  rigging, 
which  he  ascended,  and  then  returned  to  the  deck.     Still 
very  near  the  centre  of  the  river  she  passed  along.    An- 
other, and  a  greater  pitch  is  made  —  her  bow  points  to- 
wards  the   Falls— she  rocks  from  side  to   side  — vainly 
she  labors  to  pass  the  rocky  reef :— the  masts  go  by  the 
board.     One  deep  descent  more:  she  groans  harshly  over 
the  verge  — her  bow  descends,  and  with  an  astounding 
crash,  falls  upon  the  rocks;  she  breaks  in  two—  the  tim- 
bers sink  to  the  water's  edge  — and  the  whole  moves  on, 
u  doating,  broken  mass,  and  pass  over  the  Falls.     The 
•>ear,    and  one  or  two   other  animals,  reached   alive  the 
Canada  shore,  above  the  Falls:  all  'he   others  perished. 
Between  fifteen  and  twenty  thousand  persons  came  to- 
gether, to  witness  this  sight. 
The  large  vessel,  called  the  Superior,  which  was  sent 


JAUNT   TO   THE    ISLANUS. 


over  in  1829,  did  „ol  proccwi  in  its  ^'^^^^^^TTiiZiZT' 
in  a„ch  gan„„t  «.,,e.     S„e  ,„d,ed  „nl\l      '      t 
mamed  (here  for  several  day«,  „„d  wont  over  u„  beerved 
xcept  by  two  or  throe  person.    I„  ,U„  i„„„„„,  t "l' 
mals  were  put  on  board. 


-MOSS    ISLAM). 


"In  IjKiulili.l  iviMness  ii  uUirls  auny 
Wasting  ii3  wcallli  in  lailljery  spray." 

The  walk  round  the  i«hu,d  passes  near  to  the  beautiful 
stream  of  water,  which  ru„a  on  the  north  side  of  mI 
■eland.  Th.  stream  is  overhung  and  enshrouded  with 
trees  and  evergreen  .hrubs,  whose  leaves  dip  in  ffae  eil 
vered  water  as  it  glides  along.  In  it,  „„„„^,  ,,,^f,:  . 
most  ovely  water-fall,  in  rnuunUuo,  and  wh  eh  Fralei! 
A  bott  used  as  his  shower  bath.  The  adjacent  spot  , 
»1  ed  Moss  island  on  account  of  the  mosly  and  v  Ive 

the°dT„TT;  °'  "'  """""•     °"  '^'^  '^^""'^  Abbott 
as  0  be  of  rough  materials,  with  latticed  windows,  Ld 
^b    covered  w,th   moss  and  evergreen  creeping  v  „ee. 

With  the  cottage,  w,th  a  draw  attached  to  if,  that,  when 
he  dea,rcd  to  be  alone,  he  might  be  socure  from  all  m 


it 


162 


JATTNT   TO    THE    IRLANHF?. 


i    f 


The  HcrinilaKO. 


trnsion,  and  ho  himself  the  master  of  a  small  and  solitary 

domain: 

•'  Recluse,  and  hid  from  every  eye, 
Suvc  that  of  smiHn},' heaven." 

Such  additions  would   have   been  quite  an  attraction, 
and   the  hermit,  himself,  a  great   curiosity.     He  appears 
to   have  been  just  the  kind  of  man  required  to  animate 
these  wild  romantic  scenes.     On  the  subject,  he  observ- 
ed,  *♦  On  some  of  the  great  estates  in  England,  where 
I   the  proprietors  seek  to  give  a  romantic  interest  to  their 
possessions,  a  forest  or  some  retired  glen  is  chosen,  where 
a  hermitage  is  erected,  and  a  man  himd  to  play  the  her- 
mit    When  the  owner  passes  over  his  estate,  with  his 
friends,  the  hermit,  with  his  flowing  beard,  and  dressed 
in  antique  costume,  receives   them  at  the    hermitage. 
He  would  conclude,  by  saying,   *'  1  desire  to  live  alone;  I 
voluntarily  wish  to  retire  from  the  world.     It  suits  me 
not  to  mingle  with  mankind." 

The  islands  lying  beyond  Moss  island,  are  not  accessi- 
ble, excepting  in  some  severe  winters,  when  the  ice  and 
enow  is  driven  around  them,  and  dammed  the  water  oft; 
at  such  times  they  have  been  visited  by  a  few  persons. 
The  httle  island  which  lies  between  this  and   the  Canada 
shore,  and  which  just  rises  above  the  water,  is  called  Gull 
island,  from  the  circumstance  of  its  being  the  resort  of 
great  numbers  of  birds,  of  that  species.     There  they  live 
secure  and  unmolested  by  man. 

Some  years  ago,  a  bridge  frcm  the  island  to  Canada, 
to  pass  over  Gull  island,  was  a  favorite  project  with  some 
gentlemen. 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLAx\DS. 


168 


Navy  Islmid. 


It  would  bnvc  been  a  great  undertaking;  and,  if  com- 
pleted, a  cunoeity  not  loss  interesting  than  the  fIiIs 

Having  arrived  at  the  head  of  the  island,  where  an  un- 
obstructed prospect  of  the  river  is  presented,  severa  b- 
jects  are  ebcted  by  the  inquiries  of  travellers.  They  are 
comprjsed  in  the  notices  which  follow. 


NAVY    ISLAND. 

"There  is  a  pleasure  in  the  pathless  woods  ; 
TJicre  in  a  rapture  on  tlie  lonely  shore ; 

There  is  society,  where  none  intriuies,' 
By  the  deep  wave,  an.hnusic  in  its  roar  • 
I  love  not  man  the  less,  but  nature  more'." 

This  island  contains  three  hundred  acres  of  land.     It 

that  and  he  American  shore.  Opposite  to  Navy  i.land, 
iB  Street's  point,  in  Canada.  It  was  once  a  ttavy  yard 
0  the  B  i,,h,  and  late  the  residence  of  Captain  Us^ 
one  of  the  persons  concerned  in  the  Caroline  affair,  and 
Who  was  assassinated  in  December,  1838. 


THE    LOW   FAMILY. 

"  Ah  !  never  shall  Uie  land  forget 

How  gushed  the  Iife-h]oo<i  of  her  brave  - 

tiushed,  warm  with  hope  and  valor  yet, 
Upon  the  soil  they  fought  to  save.' > 

MgeJ  to  belong  to  the  Britisb,  Mr.  John  Low  made  some 


164 


JAIINT    TO    THK    ISLANDS. 


iiUMiienaiit  Low, 


31!  1' 

lyw  1 

fl"  1 ' 

1 

11  -4 

hI  m  '^ ' 

H '1^^  A\ 

^Hi    ''' 

iii 

impruvemenls,  and  built  a  house  .u,  the  eastern  end.     He 
resided  there  with  hi»  fnn,ily.     They  were  A"-''^""";''/ 
birth  and  in  principle,  and  of  very  respeetab  e  eharacter 
and  eonnexicms.     When  the  war  broke  out,  they  lell  the 
island,  and  took  up  their  resideuee  on  the  '™""'"'";  "^ 
Bloody  Hum.     At  the  battle  of  ^iurenston,  ho  unfortunate 
to  the  Ameriean  arn.s,  old  Mr.  Low  F-^'^'y  ™  "f  "l",^ 
as  one  of  the  pilots,  to  eonduct  the  boat.     Whde  thus 
employed,  he  was  fatally  wounded,  and  died  soon  after 
His  son,  John,  at  the  tin.e  of  his  father's  death,  had 
1  just  engaged  in  the  praetiee  of  the  law,  in  the  eounty  of 
Niagara;  but  gave  up  the  prospeet  of  a  lucrafve  pract  e 
to  serve  his  country,  and  accepted  a  lieutenancy  m  the 

"Tn  the  disastrous  clo.o  of  the  year  1813,  when   the 
destruction  of  all  the  vUlages  and  seltlen^cnts  on  the  N,- 
„„„ra  river  was  effected  by  the  combined  forces  of   the 
?n^sh  and  Indians,  Lieut.  Low  was  at  old  Fort  Bchlos 
ler,   of  which,  however,  there  was  then,  an'"^- ^^^^ 
since,   nothing    remaining   but  the  name.     The    British 
force  that  scoured  along  the  border,  was  overwhelming. 
The  lieutenant,  with  a  few  men,  waited  the  approach  o 
the  enemy,  and  made  such  resistance  as  thoy  could.    He 
was  shot,  and  his  men  saved  themselves  by  flight. 

Ifter  the  soldiery  had  secured  the  v'-f-.  f  ^  °°''. 
the  body  of  Low,  and  laying  it  on  a  table  in  the  hall  f 
the  aneLt  Schlosser  house,  set  the  budding  on  fire. 
This,  and  all  the  other  houses  in  the  place,  were  con- 

Thtother,  by  the  name  of  Vincent,  when  the  war  was 
over,  entered  the   military  academy,  at  West  Point- 


J ' 


T    TO    THK    ISLANDS. 


165 


VV'illiain  (Jhamhers. 


About  a  y.      „,„„,  o„  ,h„   „„.„,,„,  rf^np  „  salute, 
ine  cannon  b.    4,  nnd  ho  wn-  h\}  • 

Wp«t  Pr    *  V        I     ,  "lonumcnt  Qt 

We8tP(>  »t  records  (he  melnnclu)ly       nU 


\Whf 


WILLIAM    CHAMBERS. 

"  No  voice  comes  to  fiiin  oVr  the  x        nf  waves 
But  tJic  wild  dusJ.ing  of  the  uiircIeniHig  surge '" 

In  the  nccountfl  of  the   nfTair  of  Navy  Island,  an  old 
woman  ,8  mentioned  as  being  the  o.dy  inhabitant  when 

of  W-ll""  l,r\'°°^  J^— -"•     She  was  the  widow 
of  Wdham  Chambers,  an  indivichial  among  the  early  set- 
lers  of  the  country,  of  sotne  notoriety.     He  was  one  of 
those  persons  often  found  upon  the  frontier  of  two   na 
t.ons;  sometimes  living  in  one,  and  at  another  time  living 
m  the  other;  taking  a  part  equally  with  citizens  or  subjects 
m  political  affairs,  and  entering  with  interest  in  matters 
nnd  thmgs  incident  to  the  nation  in  which  he  happened 
to  bo.     Tn  Canada,  a  most  loyal  subject;    in    the  United 
States,  most  vociferous  in    the  support  of  the  dominant 
party. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war  with  England,  he 
resided  m  the  United  States,  a  few  miles  in  the  rear  of 
Fort  Niagara.  At  one  period,  he  was  suspected  of  car- 
rymg  on  a  correspondence  with  the  British,  but  no  evi- 
dence appeared  against  him.  When,  however  the 
country  was  overrun  by  the  enemy,  he  remained  at  home 
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JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


Wininm  Chambers. 


unmolested;  and  he  and  a  few  others,  nftcr  that  period, 
kept  up  a  communication  with  (bem,  at  Fort  Niagara. 
It  was  not  generally  believed  that  his  intercourse  with 
them  was  of  a  criminal  character.  With  his  neighbors, 
he  pasr^ed  as  a   wry  easy,  obliging   man,  designing  evil 

to  no  one. 

He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Niagara  county,  and  a 
genuine  leather-Btocking.  He  was  among  the  first  that 
opened  the  woods  on  the  bike  ebore,  at  Eighteen-mile 
Creek.  He  would  tVcciuently  sell  out,  as  is  usual  with 
persons  of  his  description,  and  realizing  a  small  profit 
on   his   labor,  would   pay  oft'  bis    debts   and    commence 

anew. 

His  last  residence  was  at  Navy  island,  under  the  juris- 
diction of  Canada:  his  principal  occupation  was  bunting, 
trapping,  and  fishing.  Grand  island,  and  the  other  isl- 
ands in  the  river,  abounded  with  game.  The  muskrat 
was  the  chief  object  of  pursuit,  being  the  most  numerous, 
and  affording  the  beet  return:  coons  were  also  plenty  — 
the  meat  was  acceptable,  and  the  skins  sold  readily.  The 
mink,  the  fox,  and  the  otter,  afforded  him  more  valuable 
furs.     To  these,  he  occasionally  added  the  deer,  the  bear, 

and  wolf. 

He  had  arrived  to  near  eixty  years  of  age,  when,  one 
very  stormy  night,  in  lbs  month  of  December,  he  and 
another  person  came  to  a  farm  house,  near  the  river, 
about  seven  miles  above  the  Falls.  They  said  they  had 
been  up  the  river,  and  had  purchased  a  barrel  of  whiskey, 
which  they  had  with  them  in  the  canoe.  They  staid  an 
hour,  and  at  nine  o'clock,  departed.  They  were  advised 
io  remain:  the  Geverity  of  the  storm,  the  darknnes  of  the 


fH 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 

Expedition  to  Nuvy  Island. 


167 


night,  and  the  danger  of  the  river,  were  urged  upon 
them;  but  Chambers  was  confident  in  his  ability  to  '<get 
over  the  bay."  They  lauched  their  frail  canoe  in  the 
rapid  stream:  fbr  a  moment  only,  after  leaving  the  shore, 
they  were  distinguishable  -  they  were  then  lost  in  the 
driving  tempest;  ana  men  or  canoe  were  never  more  heard 
of.     They  went  over  the  Falls. 


one 


he  and 


river 


THE    EXPEDITION    TO    NAVY    ISLAND,    AND    THE 
STEAMBOAT    CAROLINE. 

"  Nipht's  blessed  spell  hath  now 

Lulled  every  sound  of  crirth  in  slinnl;er  deep. 

The  sad  heurt  hulli  awliiie  forgot  its  woe  — 
The  weary  frame  its  toil ;  Init  such  sweet  sleep 

Brings  not  its  halni  to  soothe  this  fevered  brain  and  b  row." 

About  the  middle  of  the  month  of  December,  1837, 
twenty-eight  men,  principally  Canadians,  with  Rens- 
Belaer  Van  Rensselaer,  and  William  L^  n  Mackenzie, 
went  on  Navy  island.  They  called  to  them  the  patriots 
of  Canada,  and  all  others  the  friends  of  that  cause.  In 
the  space  of  three  weeks,  between  three  and  four  hun- 
dred  responded  to  the  call;  some  from  the  United  States, 
and  some  from  Canada.  They  brought  with  them  arms 
and  provisions.  They  staid  on  the  island  for  one  month, 
and  then,  at  their  own  choice,  left  it,  and  not  in  fear  of 
their  opponents.     Opposite  to  them,  were  assembled  five 


hr- 


168 


JAUNT    TO   THE    ISLANDS. 


ii. 


If- 


Steuinboat  Caroline. 


thousand  men,   consisting    of  British    regulars,   incorpo- 
rated militia,  and  a  body  of  Indians  and  Negroes.     Bat- 
teries were  erected,  and  balls  and  shells  were  at  intervals 
cast  upon  the  island.     The  islanders  were  incessantly  in 
a  state  of  danger  and  alarm;  yet  they  would,   at  times, 
provokingly  return  the  fire.     For  a  month,  a  raw,  undis- 
ciplined band  of  men,  in  the  severity  of  winter,  with  no 
shelter  but  such  as  they  then  constructed,  and  miserably 
clad,    set  at  defiance  and  laughed  at   the  overwhelming 
force,  which  lay  so  near   to  them,  that  they  frequently 
conversed  together.     Let  justice  be  done  to  them;  and, 
however,  by  contending  parties  they  may  be  differently 
esteemed,  there  must  be  awarded  to  them  the  praise  of 
being  as  enduring  and  as  brave  a  set  of  fellows  as  ever 
assembled   together.      They  left  the  island  because  the 
United  States  would  not  countenance  them,  and  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  wishes  of  American  citizens,   who  in- 
terposed to  effect  their  dispersion.     An  expression  of  one 
of  the  leaders,  before  leaving,  was—"  I  fear  not    my 
enemies,  but  my  friends." 

Theie  is  an  occurrence  connected  with  the  Navy  island 
affair,  painful  to  relate. 

The  steamboat  Caroline  came  from  Buffalo,  on  the  29th 
of  December,  it  was  said,  to  ply  as  a  ferry-boat  between 
Schlosser  and  Navy  inland.  It  passed,  that  day,  forth 
and  back  several  times,  and  before  sun-down  was  brought 
to  at  the  wharf,  at  Schlosser,  and  moored  for  the  night. 
At  that  place,  there  was  but  one  house,  and  that  a  tavern. 
The  warlike  movements  between  the  patriots  and  British, 
had  drawn  to  the  frontier,  through  motives  of  curiosity, 
a  great  number  of  persons.     The  tavern  was  crowded  — 


i5 


r 


%ii!fr^ 


island 


r 


U       if 

t 


f  t^'^  i\ 


lodgir 

servir 

hoard 

the  V 

kept, 

but  b( 

riiGhc( 

crying 

No  ar 

pectet 

uninji 

woiin( 

twelv< 

Ihe  bo 

the  fl 
shone 
On  th 
burnin 
expedi 
boomii 
of  thog 
The 
vod  on 
ecene 
Iris  ieli 
and  el] 
the  GUI 

In  j 
accoun 
8tructi( 


JAUNT   TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


169 


Beacon  Liehi. 


lodgings  could  not  be  obtained— and  severnl  persons,  ob- 
serving  the  steamboat,  sought  for  accommodations  on 
board,  and  were  received.  In  the  middle  of  the  night, 
the  watch,  for  a  watch  on  board  steamboats  is  usually 
kept,  saw  something  advancing  on  the  water.  He  hailed, 
but  before  he  could  give  the  alarm,  a  body  of  armed  men 
ruGhed  on  board,  ehot  at  the  sentinel,  and  all  they  met, 
crying  — '<  Cut  them  down!"  ''Give  no  quarters!" 
No  arms  were  on  board  of  the  boat;  no  attack  was  ex- 
pected;  and  no  resistance  was  made.  Some  got  on  shore 
uninjured;  others  were  severely  cut  and  dangerously 
wounded.  One  man  was  shot  dead  on  the  wharf,  and 
twelve  were  missing,  either  killed,  or  burnt  and  sunk  with 
Ihe  boat. 

They  towed  the  boat  out  in  the  river,  and  set  it  on  fire; 
the  flames  burst  forth;  it  drifted  slowly,  and  its  blaze 
shone  far  and  wide  over  the  water  and  adjacent  shores. 
On  the  Canada  side,  at  a  distance  above  Chippewa,  was 
burning  a  large  light,  as  a  signal  to  those  engaged  in  the 
expedition.  In  a  short  time,  an  astounding  shout  came 
booming  over  the  water:  it  was  for  the  success  and  return 
of  those  who  had  performed  this  deed. 

The  beacon  was  extinguished.  The  Caroline  still  mo- 
ved on,  and  cast  its  lurid  light  far  and  wia.^,  clothing  the 
scene  in  gloom  and  horror;  and  just  below  the  point  of 
Iris  island,  suddenly  disappeared.  Many  of  the  wrecked 
and  charred  remains  were,  the  next  morning,  floating  in 
the  current  and  eddies  below  the  Falls. 

In  justice  to  both  sides,  it  should  be  stated,  that  the 
accounts  of  the  difl'erent  parties  connected  with  the  de- 
struction of  the  Caroline,  differ  entirely  from  each  other, 


H. 

u 

si 

u 

ll 

i 

iw^' 

' 

fli 

f 

iSIsc* 

i 

I'ffii 


170 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


Grunil  Inland. 


as  to  the  character  of  <hc  vessel,  the  resistance  made  by 
the  persons  on  board,  the  number  killed,  and  in  various 
other  particulars.  These  the  author  leaves  to  be  settled 
by  the  politicians  of  the  two  nations.  The  account  which 
he  has  adopted,  is  the  one  most  strongly  impressed  upon 
the  American  public. 


OWANUNGA,    OR    GRAND    ISLAND. 

"  Here,  lofty  trees,  to  ancient  song  unknown, 
The  noble  sons  of  potent  heat  and  floods," 

This  island  is  twelve  miles  long,  and  between  six  and 
seven  wide.  It  lies  mid-wny  between  the  Falls  and  Lake 
Erie,  and  contains  seventeen  thousand  acres  of  land.  It 
is  principally  covered  with  large  and  valuable  timber,  and 
the  soil  is  rich  and  productive. 

In  1816  and  '17,  a  number  of  persons,  from  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  went  on  this  island.  They  marked 
out  the  boundaries  of  their  different  possessions;  elected 
magistrates,  and  other  officers,  from  among  themselves; 
and  gave  out  that  they  were  amenable  to  neither  govern- 
ment, but  an  independent  community.  After  the  ques- 
tion of  boundary  was  settled,  the  State  of  New- York 
passed  a  law  to  drive  them  off;  but  that  was  not  effected 
till  the  severe  measure  was  resorted  to,  of  destroying  their 
houses,  which  was  done  by  tie  sheriff  and  posse  of  Erie 
county. 


n 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


171 


Burnt  Hhip  Creek. 


Grand  ,riand  was  selected  by  Major  N„.h,  of  New- 
York,  on  which  to  build  a  city,  and  establish  a  colony  of 
Jews,  w.th  .he  view  of  making  it  the  Ararat  or    eating 

hat  thcr  government  would  bo  organized,  and  thenee  the 

awe  would  emanate  which  were  again  to  bring  together 

he  children  of  Wl,  and  re-establish  them  as  a  na^on  of 

the  earth.      The  European  Rabbi  did  not  sane  on  the 

scheme,  and  .t  vanished  as  a  day-dr,am  of  the  learned 

and  worthy  projector.  «oniea 

A  company,  from  Boston,  have  since  become  the  pro- 
pnetors;  and  the  great  improvements  they  have  mad^ 
evmce  a  noble  spirit  of  enterprise.  ' 


BUCK  HORN   ISLAND. 
At  the  north-eastern  point  of  Grand  island,  lies  Buck- 

hundred  and  fifty  .eres.    It  was  occupied  first  by  David 
Mudget    a  veteran  otficer  of  the  American   Revolution 

flS^rhrrrover"™"""'  '"*'  "-"^'-'-^^P-ion, 

Burnt  Ship  Creek  lies  between  Buek-Homand  Grand 

.sand     In  1759,  the  French,  in  preference  of  their  ^ 

lus  place.    The.r  remains  are  yet  observable,  and  con- 
«derable  iron  has  been  obtained  from  them;  and,  not  long 


172 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


Fort  Schlosser. 


since,  Borac  timber,  suflicicntly  firm  to  work  into  walk- 
ing canes. 

Two   miles  from  the   Falls,   and  near   the  steamboat 

landing,  is  Corner's  island. 

Tlirec  miles  further,  and  opposite  Cayuga  creek,  is 
Cayuga  island. 

Six  miles  further,  and  opposite  Tonawanda,  is  Tona- 
wanda  island.  Between  that  and  Lake  Eric,  there  are 
several  others,  of  greater  or  less  magnitude. 

The  next  object  to  which  the  attention  of  the  traveller 
is  directed,  is  Porter's  storehouse,  or  the  steamboat  land- 
ing. It  is  the  end  of  ship  navigation,  on  the  American 
side  of  the  Niagara,  and  is  the  proposed  point  for  the 
commencement  of  the  great  ship  canal,  around  the  Falls; 
a  work  which  the  extensive  and  p»>pul()us  countries  on 
the  upper  lakes  are  requiring,  and  will  urge  forward  until 
accomplished. 
■  At  this  place,  the  pcrsorB  going  on  the  Navy  island 
expedition,  embarked;  and  it  ie  there  that  the  steamboat 
Caroline  lay,  when  she  waa  cut  out. 

Nearly  a  mile  below  the  landing,  are  the  remains  ol 
old  Fort  Schlosser.  The  name  is  derived  from  the  Ger- 
man, and  means  castle.  It  was  anciently  a  stockade, 
built  upon  banks  slightly  raised  above  the  plain.  From 
the  remains,  it  appears  that  there  were  two  fortifications 
contiguous  to  each  other,  and  of  similar  construction. 
In  a  historical  memorandum  and  map,  in  1755,  before 
the  country  was  subdued  by  the  British,  it  is  marked 
"  Store  House"  only.  The  site  is  now  a  cultivated 
field,  and  the  grounds  have  been  frequently  ploughed 
over. 


JAUNT    TO    THE    ISLANDS. 


173 


Jaunt  coiicJiKjfd, 


Tl,c  parly  move  on,  and  posa  tho  house  whTiTiwia 

Ahbou  W.o,„o  .in,e  re«„K  a„.l  ,u,,  „t  „  pW„  X" 

I       enrlh    1,„,    been    exe«v«le,l.     Here,  several    human 

ke  e,„„a   have  been  dug  up.     How  ,hey  e«„,e  there,"" 

iiintter  of  conjecture.  ' 

The  enclosure,  which  is  aeon  at  the  left,  is  a  garden 
vvhore   ,n    the  aenson  of  llowerB  and  fruits,  boquets  and 
fruits  are  kept  for  g«]o. 

From  every  part  of  the  upper  end  of  the  islnnd,  a  Hnc 
View  18  presented  of  the  village  of  Niagara  Falls,  and 
intervening  rnijjds.  ' 

The  residence  of  Judge  PoKer  is  much  admired.  It 
stands  on  rising  ground  overlooking  the  river  and  rapids. 
The  Judge  is  a  gc>ntleman  of  much  industry,  and  of  dis- 
lingiushed  talent..  He  and  his  brother,  General  Porter 
purchased  mn.iy  years  ago,  of  the  Slate  of  New- York  a 
large  tract  of  land  around  the  Falls,  of  which  they  are 
etill  the  princii)ul  proprietors. 

Gen.  Whilney'.  place  is  aleo  seen  advantageously  from 
the  island.     JJo  wa.  among  the  liist  inhahilaiits,  and  has 
proved  himself  a  pioneer  worthy  of  all  praise.     Enterpri 
^ing  in  a  most  eminent  degree,  doing  at  all  times  all  that 
industry  aiid  his  means  could  afford  in   making  improve 
ments  around  the  Fall.,  and  ori  his  own  pi-emises,  for  the 
accommodation  of  visitors -lirst  putting   ladders  down 
the  bank,  and  then  a  stair-case;  establishir.g  a  ferry  and 
in  building  bridges,  platforms,  and  many  other  conveni- 
enccs. 

round  the  island  is  ended. 


v 


in 

woiiKI 
Niago 
than 
one,  1 
bo  fan 
called 
that  p 
and  th 


A   JAUNT 


TO   THK 


WHIRLPOOL,  DEVIL'S  HOLE, 

TUSr\RORA  INDIAN  VIJ.LGE, 


AND 


l-'ORT    NI  AG  All  A. 


THE    WHIRLPOOL. 

"AW.  irrrMiIy  tJioy  rape! 
TlK-  hoarse  and  ra|)i(l  \vliirlp(..i|'ri  ilirrc  1     My  |,rain 
(irowH  w il.l  :  my  senses  wander,  as  I  .raz- 
Tpou  the  Iiurrying  wuter." 

If  the  FoIl«  of  Ninjrara  did  not  exist,  the  Whirlpool 
would  be  the  most  diatiniruiyhcd  curiosity  aObrded  by  the 
Njagam  river  ;  and,  in  the  estimation  of  many,  greater 
than  any  of  present  notoriety  in  our  country.  Every 
one,  brought  up  in  or  near  the  city  of  New  York,  mur* 
be  famdiar  with  the  far-famed  and  much  dreaded  strait 
called  Hurl-Gate,  formerly  Ilell-Cxate.  The  horrors  of 
hat  place  are  well  know  i  to  all  youthful  imaginations, 
and  the  dread  of  the    "frying-pan  and  pot"   can   hardl^ 


178 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


m^ 


rr<MiiiiiiK>ry  notice 


be  eradicnl'd  by  more  mature  obeervalion.  But  ptiRS 
once  from  the  East  river  to  the  wikl  ami  rnehing  Whirl- 
pool  of  Niagara,  and  the  imaginary  terrors  of  Hurl- 
Gate  will  pass  away  :  on  your  return,  the  strait  will 
appear  placid,  or  only  seem  agitated  as  with  a  summer's 
breeze. 

Even  the   great  Maelstrom  Whirlpool,   of  Norway,  is 
not   more   dangerous   tlian  that  of  Niagara  ;    none  have 
passed  the  vortex  of  either,    nor   fathomed  their  depths. 
For  the  satisfaction  of  those  wlio   visit   Ihe   Whirlpool  of 
Niagara,  a  short  description  of  the   Maelstrom  is  inserted 
'  in  this  work.     It  is  from  the  pen  of  an  American  gentle- 
man, who  visited  the  place  he  describes.     If  travellers   to 
the  American  Whirlpool  would  wish  to  experience  all  the 
sensations  of  danger  and  peril   which   come   over  those 
who  passed  the  disk   of  the    Maelstrom,   they    have    but 
to  launch  a  boat  on  the  Niagara,  and  atltnipt  an   excur- 
sion,   for   examining    more  closely  the  whirling  waters. 
In  so   doing,   they  will  truly  peril    their    lives,  and  feel 
sensations  of   terror,    to    their    hearta    contc'-t  ;    or  the 
waves  of    Niagara  will  make  buoyant  their  bodies,  and 
infuse  courage,  more  than  natural,  in  the  hearts  of  those 
who  ride  over  them. 


ifi,  i 


OLD    PORTAGP]    ROAD. 


"  Rent  me,  Oh  bear  me  to  scipicster'd  sccncg, 
The  bow'ry  mazes,  ami  surrounding  greens."' 

The  party  at  the  Falls  having  taken  seats  in  the  omni- 
J3iie  or  havinf   cnf'Qp'ed  a  barouche  or  carriage,  are  on 


JAUNT   TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL.  I79 


tind  Pierce. 


road  w  h  ,h    '^-  "'"  I"  ""'  ^"'"="""  "f  "-  Lowiaton 
road  with  the  Nragam   Falls    and    SchlosBcr  roads     In 

ZZ^ri  '"'  ™"  ^-^  «■"   Sroat  ,h„™.,„„hfar;  be" 
tween  the   lower  and  upper  lakes.     When  all  the  enr- 
round,„g    country  was    wild    and   solitary,  unimproved 
and  u„.„h„bited  exeept  by  the  natives  of  IL  fore  "tW: 

Pri.  ..     1  !  '  °*    greatly    changed;    the 

Ene  canal  opened  a  new  communieation,  and  the  Wei- 

Thl  I  "I  /"'  """"'"''  '''''™  E™  ^"d  Ontario. 
These  works  have  drawn  the  business  from  the  Portag^ 

road,  and  now,  although  the  country  through  which  It 
passes  .  .^proved  and  productive,  it  .s  far  more  lonely 
tban  it  was  m  former  days. 


GAD    PIERCE,  ESQ. 

"  Who  does  the  utmost  that  he  can 
Does  well.-acts  nobly  ;  angels  conld  no  more." 

At  the  junction  ofthe  Portage  with  the  Niagara  Falls 
road,  was,  some  years  since,  kept  the  public  house  of 
Gad  Pierce.  He  was,  in  the  time  of  the  war  with  Great 
iintam,  an  active  frontier  partizan.  When  hostihties 
commenced  bet..en  the  two  countries,  there  was  ^Z 

small    number  o^  tr^-r" -^i,      a  ^ 

li*  ""  American   side  of  the 


■I 


u  ■ 


180 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLrOOL. 


.*.  J 


A  cavalcailc  — An  altack. 


river,  and  a  single  company  only   to   garrison  Fort  Nia- 
gara.    It  was  expected,   every  night,  that  the  fort  would 
be  attacked  by  the  British,  who  had  a  large  body  of  men 
at  Fort  George.     Mr.  Fierce,  aware  of  this  state  of  things, 
one  day  raised  all  the  inhabitants  of  the   country,  far  and 
near,— young   and    old.     The  country   was  then  thinly 
populated,  and  they  assembled  at  Lewiston   from  several 
miles  distant.     Horses  of  every  kind  were  brought  into 
requie'tion,    and  when  the   citizens  were  mounted,  they 
appeared  at  a  distance  like  a  formidable  troop  of  cavalry. 
Among  them,   too,  were  several  of  the  Tuscarora  Indi- 
ans, who  entered  with  spirit  into  the  manoeuvre.     In  the 
place  of   swords,  they  used   walking   canes,  sticks,  and 
ramrods.     Several  of  the  ramrods  were  of  polished  steel 
or  iron,  which  made  a  very  bright  and  flashy  appearance. 
The   cavalcade   moved   from   Lewiston,   along   the    river 
road,  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  and  entered   Fort  Niagara : 
the  blankets  of  the   Indians  lluttcring  in  the  wind,  and 
the  many-colored  and  various  habiliments  of  the  farmers  ; 
the  limping  and   ovcr-straincd  plough  horse;  the  nibbling 
gait  and  twitching  head  of  the  wild  pony  ;  with  now  and 
then  a  noble  horse  of  the  Pennsylvania  breed ;  formed, 
to  those  who  were  near,  a  most  ludicrous  spectacle.     In 
the  fort,   they  dismounted,  and   performed   some    slight 
evolutions  in  the  most  laughable  style.     At  the  command 
to   mount,    some  of  the    Indians   executed  the  order  in 
such  a  masterly  manner,  as  to   throw  themselves  entirely 
over  their  ponies.     To  the   British,  the  imposing  appear- 
ance of  the  troops,  with  their  steel  ramrods,  which  glit- 
tered in  the  sun  like  broedswords,  had  the  desired  effect ; 
the  contemplated  attack  was  not  made. 


JAUXT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


181 


iNriiieral  Spring. 


^  At  the  time  of  tho  general  invasion  of  the  frontier,  Mr. 
Pierce  had  hiB  family  conveyed  to  a  place  of  security,  but 
would  not  himself  quit  his  premises.     He,    and  three  or 
four  others,   formed   the   little    garrison,    with  which  he 
determined  to   defend   his  honee.     They    waited  for  the 
approach  of  the  enemy.     At  length,  a  company  of  British 
regulars  appeared  in  sight,  and  n  fire  was  opened  upon 
them.     They  continued  the  defence   for  some  time  ;  but, 
as  their  opponents   were   numerous,    it  was    impossible 
to  keep  them  at  a  distance.     A  part  advanced  upon  the 
front  of  the  house,  succeeded  in  breaking  down  the  door, 
and  fired  their  pieces  as   they   entered.     The   defenders 
effected  their  escape  in  an  opposite    direction,  without  an 
individual  of  their    uumber  being    wounded.     Whether 
the  attacking  party  suffered  any  loss,  was  not  known. 


i^       :.   ! 


iMINERAL    SPRING. 


i>'  nil. 


Two  m,les  from  the  Falls,  a  small  open  building, 
painted  white,  with  Grecian  columns,  is  j^ointed  out  by 
the  guide,  as  one  of  the  works  of  Benjamin  llathbun. 
It  stands  between  the  road  and  the  river,  and  is  placed 
over  a  mineral  spring.  The  spring  is  sulphurous,  and 
the  water,  it  is  said,  very  much  resembles  that  of  Har- 
rowgate,  in  England.  In  rheumatic  and  scrofulous  and 
many  other  diseases,   it  has  been   used  to  advantage,  in 

several  cases:  and  it  nnlu  rnnii.r-^'^  .^-^ o— .  ;^  , 

.}  L  ^.iij  * '^ 4 '^^ ^'- o "c^;cBoaiy  improvement; 


182 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


Drscription  ot'llir  Wliirlpool, 


hathfl,  and  other  acconiinodnl ions,  and  it  will  Bt)()n  ohtnin 
celebrity  and  favor   with   the  puhlic.     Tiic  situation,  too, 
is  very  pleawint,  and  a  distant  view  of  the  Falls  is  obtained 
from  the  road  —  the  view  which  Capl.  UmW  ][m11  so  much 
admired,  and  which   so  vividly,    he  says,  reninijied  iixed 
upon  his  mind.     Afler  all,    1o    Knllihiin    must  he  awarded 
the  credit  of  liavin<f  a  very  sound  judgment  in  making  his 
purchases,     lie   selected    the    most    choice   and    valuable 
situations  ;  and,  had  it  not  been  for  his  unfortunate  aber- 
ration from  Ihc  path  of  rectitude,   his  high  expectations, 
as  to  value,  would  have  been  realized. 
4 


i! 


i  <' 

\i 


THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


"  IiiiajriiiiUion,  hanied,  strives  in  vain  ! 
The  wildest  8lrciuns  tliat  ever  poctH  foifin, 
Thou  (lost  transcend  !     Tiicrc  is  no  i)o\ver  in  song 
To  paint  the  wonders  that  around  nie  tlirong  !" 

This  grand  and  beautiful  scene  is  three  miles  from  the 
Falls  of  Niagara,  and  lour  miles  from  the  village  of 
Lewiston. 

Sttmding  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Niagara,  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet  above  the  river,  you  behold  at  a  dis- 
tance the  advancing  waters  ;  not  mild  and  gentle,  but 
agitated,  rushing,  and  roaring,  with  deafening  sound, 
they  hurry  on.  They  come,  in  all  their  power ;  majes- 
tic, solitary,  and  alone.  No  vessel,  or  work  of  man's 
formation,   floats  on  the  raging  torrent :  nothing  of  life 


^AUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 

Fr.'HriiiriiiH  of  Vcssols. 


183 


rules  ovor   the  roMom   wavon,  or    flcntn   u„«calh.;l    on 
bn   misLcrowned    billovvH.     TI.Ih    mi.hfy    ii„ocl  is  n,ore 
ionoly    nn.l    n,y«tenonH    tlmn    tlu-    solitary    oronn.     Man 
}'»««"«   Willi    cornparafivc    scrurily  over  tho  vasty  doep  ■ 
>"t,  on  these  vvalorH,  livi,,.,  I,c  n.oves  not  :  he   is  power' 
lcB«.     Ihoy   rn.:o,    in    th.ir   solitudo,    alone,- for  ever  • 
'""    man   ran  only    b.>hoid    thorn  with   enrotions  of  awe' 
J.n.    reverence   that   Ahni.l.fy   Pown-  -who   weighs  the 
nllH.n  ahalnn<.e,ancl   hold,    the    water,  of  the  ocean  in 
tlie  hollow  ot  ]n"s  hand." 

«till  forward,  in  wave  after  wave,  rushes  the  resist- 
lo.s  lood  ;  and  all  ,|,.t  l!oa,H  therein,  i«  podcd,  dis- 
H.en.hend  and  cr.^hrd.  Jf  an  object  in  h.held,  it  is  hut 
/-r  a  monunt  :  Rwifdy  it  pa.srs  the  hollow  of  the  crested 
waves-risesann-dtho  feathery  nn'^t-and  then,  again, 
in  an  inst  r.t,  i.  ,:li„,,.d  I.elow.  It  remains  for  some  tin.e 
mm>e,.,ed  IVon,  si^ht  ;  and,  if  i(,  a.ain  appear.,  it  will 
»>e  Rtill  more  wrecked  and  hrokeii. 

The  river  widens,  opposite  the  spectator;  and,  on   the 
(nnada.Hle,  a  counter  cnrront,  equal    to  the  main  chan- 
nel,  rusher,  up  the  Rtream.     A  lariie  basin  of  warrin..  water 
IS  presented  to  the  eye  of  th(.  enraptured  beholder.     Ho 
sees  the  great  Niagara,  pouring  therein    the   accumulated 
waters  of  a   thousand   rivers   and  lakes,  and  driving,  with 
irresistable  inij)etiioHity,  against  the  rocky  shore  of  Cana- 
•In;  and  the  counter  current,  with  equal  power,  passing 
m  an  opposite   direction.     With   absorbing   interest,    he 
observes,  between  the  contending  currents,  the  deep  en- 
trnlh:,!;    eddfes,   and   the    yawning   whirlpool.     There  ho 
sees  huge  masses  of  timber,  dismembered  trees,  the  fracr- 
ments  of  vessels  and  water  craft,    the  wrecks  of  ail  timt 


^1 


If' 


4:1 

4 


i 


mimt 

RMife    ! 

I^^^H 

I^^H    fl 

l^^l' 

^B  t 

|H 

H  1 

'^H 

^■p 

K 

1 

n^H  ^ 

^■jjB 

1' 

184 


JATINT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


Now  view. 


bnH  paBsed  the  Falls  or  lLi(3  calamctB  ..l"  the  river  nhc.vc. 
They  go  roun.l,  and  round  ;  they  gradually  approach  the 
centre  ;  then  they  am  drawn  in,  and  are  f^wallowed  up 
in  the  deep  vorlex  of  the  sln^ani.  After  a  while,  at  a 
distant  point,  they  arc  propelled  upward,  and  again  re- 
new  tueir  circuit,  and  again  arc  drawn  helow.  Some- 
times trees,  and  logs,  are  cjocled  upwards  with  bo  nmeh 
violence,  as  to  raise  one  end  several  feet  perpendicularly 
above  the  water.  01)i('ct8  drawn  in  the  Whirlpool,  have 
been  knowu  to  remain  there  for  several  weeks. 

The  wliole  exijansc  of  water  lies  below  the  spectator  ; 
'his  eye  seems  to  take  in  the  whole  scene;  and  no  open- 
ing or  outlet  for  this  vast  and  constantly  increasing  Hood, 
is  observed      Sometimes,  travellers,  who,  in  past  years, 
visited  this  place  without  a  guide,  returned  disappointed. 
They  did  not  see  the  Whirlpool  ,  but,  mistaking  a  rapid 
portwn  of  the  Niagara,  something  similar  in   appearance, 
n  quarter  of  a  mile  above,  their  expectations  of  the  mag- 
nitude and   interest   of    the  scene,   were  not    amswcrcd. 
Others  have  seen  the  Whirlpool,   but  not  all    about  it  ; 
not  having  turned  the  point,  to   feast  their  eyes  upon  the 
fine  and    noble   view   of  the   retreating   water,    or    not 
having  descended  the  bank,  to  the  edge  of  the  stream,  as 
it  thunders  along. 

The  traveller  should  pass  a  few  paces  to  the  north,  and 
at  the  turn  of  a  point  near  the  brink  of  the  precipice,  di- 
rect his  attention  beneath.  There  he  beholds,  what  at 
first  appears  a  small,  dark  and  heavy  stream  ;  like  some 
deep  and  narrow  mountain  torrent ;  but  unlike  the  great 
Niagara,  so  much  the  object  of  admiration.  For  some 
moments,  the  illusion  is  complete.     The  Whirlpool  and 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


185 


Hddiea  luid  Vorlicrs. 


nhovc. 
veil  tho 
wed  up 
le,  at  n 
fQiii  rc- 

Somc- 
o  nmc'li 
liciilnrly 
ol,  hnvc 

relator  ; 
10  opcn- 

l)g  ll()0(]> 
t    yCQllB, 

pointed, 
a  iPi)id 
K^aiaiK'c, 
[he  ma<,'- 
iiswcrctl. 
hout  it ; 
npou  tbe 
or  not 
leuui,  ae 

)rth,  and 
ipice,  di- 
wbat  at 
ike  some 
tbe  great 
Por  some 
Ipool  and 


Its  fonnnng  eddies -its  deep  gulfs  and  encircling  waves, 
are  all  forgot  ;  and  (he  imagination  in  seized  with  rapture 
and  Burpriso,  at  this  unexpected  and  newly  discovered 
scene.  He  advances— tbe  reality  is  discovered:  tbis  is, 
indeed,  the  Niagara,  escaping,  as  it  were,  from  its  prison 
house.  The  charm  is  not  immediately  dissolved ;  the 
great  river  is  contracted  to  a  very  span  ;  the  opposite 
shore  of  Canada  is  within  a  stone's  throw;  and  the  deep 
waters  are  literally  poured  out  from  the  broad  basin  of 
the  Whirlpool. 

When  tbe  waters  are  at  their   usual  height,  the  vsitor 
can,  where  the  river  disgorges  from  the   Whirlpool,  walk 
out  from  the  shelving  bank,  to  the  very  verge  of  the  pas- 
sing torrent.     He  ca.i  there,  if  his  nerves  are  steady  and 
strong,  dip  his  hands  or  bathe  his  feet  in  the  deep,  green, 
impetuous  Hood   that    rushes   along  ;    but,    to  do  so,  he 
must   be   firm,  or,    at   beholding   the  advancing  waters, 
hearing  their  astounding   roar,   and   glancing  at  the  fluc- 
tuant current,    the    head    may   become    dizzy,  and,  like 
other  daring  unforlunates,  he  may   fall   a   victim  to  the 
dark  and  troubled   waters  of  Niagara.     The  more   wary 
traveller  will  retreat  a  few  yards,  and  try  his  strength  to 
cast  a  stone  to  reach  the  opposite  shore  of  Canada  ;  a  feat 
which  has  been  done  by   the  sinewy  sons  of  the  farmers 
of  Niagara. 

The  Whirlpool  is  a  place  combining  many  objects  to 
interest ;  but,  at  times,  the  spectacle  is  not  alike  impo- 
smg.  When  the  water  is  at  its  usual  height,  or  rather 
lower,  the  eddies  and  vortices  are  the  largest,  and  the 
8cene  then  appears  to  the  best  advantage.  After  a  storm, 
when  brideea  have  been   rarrind  r^ir  ,r^oR„i„ -l,- ,    ,* 


^11 


:!:■'! 


186 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


Hi  ? 


"Sow  (lirii'ovcry. 


bonts  torn  nway  from  their  liiHtoning,  and  trees  and  loga 
Bwcpt  down  from  the  upper  hdic,  then  all  Ihe  terrors  of 
the  place  are  prcHcnted,  and  it  is  only  inferior  to  the  ^reat 
cataract  of  Niagara,  The  two  scenes  are  alike  the  result 
of  the  stupendous  oongrrf!;ation  of  waters,  which  irre- 
sistibly passes  through  the  niounlain  gorge,  from  Schlos- 
eer  to  Lewiston  ;  but  there  is  no  similitude  existing  be- 
tween Ihem. 

Sometime  since  a  raft  of  logs  of  more  than  seventy 
pieces,  belonging  to  Gen'l  Whitney,  broke  loose  above  the 
Falls  and  were  carried  over  the  cataract ;  they  lodged  in 
tlie  Whirlpool  where  they  remained  careering  round  for 
several  weeks.  The  scene  was  then  very  interesting; 
some  were  gliding  over  the  smooth  undulating  water, 
some  were  dancing  and  bounding  on  the  waves,  while 
others  were  springing  on  and  driven  forth  from  the  deep. 
They  were  in  all  positions,  striking  and  crushing  each 
other,  leaping  and  moving  round  in  a  commingling  war  of 
elemental  commotion. 

A  visitor  in  the  month  of  September  1840,  while  in- 
tensely admiring  and  studying  this  scene  of  beauty  and 
wonder  from  the  American  side  waa  lead  to  the  impression, 
that  any  thing  thrt)wn  into  the  river  at  a  particular  point, 
would  not  be  taken  down  the  stream,  strong  as  the  current 
swelled  itself  along,  but  would  be  carried  to  the  other 
side.  The  next  day  the  experiment  was  made,  and  a 
most  interesting  feature  of  the  Whirlpool  discovered; 
showing  more  clearly  than  had  yet  been  known,  the  very 
singular  action  of  the  water.  Several  pieces  of  timber 
were  set  adrift,  one  after  another  ;  they  first  floated  up 
the  stream,  then  full  into  the  main  channel,  in  which  they 


JAUNT    TO    THE    VVHIRLroOL. 

tSuspension  Mri(Jge. 


187 


rf  :, 


moved  rap.dly  towards  the  Canada  shore,  to  which  they 
approached  within  a  few  ro.ls  :  then  wheeling  they  ,assed 
up  the  stream  entered  the  Whirlpools  where  they  renmin- 
ed  driving  round  during  the  day. 

A  short  time  after  a  tight  barrel  was  taken  to  this  point- 

a  quantity  of  gravel  was  put  in   for  ballast,  to  cause  it  to 

float  on  end  ;  a  slender  staff  with  a  ting  attached  to  it  was 

secured  to  the  other  end,  and  thus  prepared  it  was  launched 

mto  the  river.     It  took  the  same   course,    passed   to  the 

Canada  shore,  entered  (he   Whirlpool  ;  where  after  many 

hours  It  was  left,  still  moving  and   dancing  round.     This 

simple,  yet  beautiful  experiment  more  than  any  thing  vet 

Witnessed,   shows  the  very    extraordinary  movements  of 

his  flood  of  water.     This  experiment  can  only  be  made 

trom  the  American  side. 

It  «how8  almost  conclusively  that  nothing  passes  floating 
from  the  Whirlpool,  but  such  things  as  enter  it  from  the 
rn-er  above,  continue  therein,  until  swallowed  up  in  the 
Whirlpools,  they  are  carried  ofl'  in  the  depths  of  the  cur- 
rent. 

At  the  outlet  of  the  Whirlpool,  the  banks  of  the  Nia 
gare  river  approach  each  other  nearer  than  at  any  other 
point ;  and  it  a  suspension  bridge  should  ever  be   erected 
over  the  Niagara,    nature  seems   to  have  designated  this 
Bpot  as  being  the   most  suitable,    as  it   is  here  the  most 

practicable. 

> 

"  There  is  a  beautiful,  undying  charm 
In  God's  created  work..    The  whispering  wind,  and  waves, 
1  he  mountain  brook,  ihe  creeping  grass,  /lowers, 

Quivering  leaves,  even  to  Jhc  lowliest  things, 
Do  lisp  their  Maker's  praise." 


Illi! 


188 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHlULrOOL. 


J- 


Tlic  i)r(»s|ifcl. 


llnviii^nrrived  nt  the  Lodge  the  charge  for  entering 
upon  the  grounds  is  puid  at  the  gnte.  It  has  been  custom- 
ary to  drive  to  the  hnidv  with  n  cnrrifige,  and  the  carriage 
is  left  in  waiting.  This  course  is  not  recommended  ;  the 
expense  is  enchanccd,  the  visitors  are  hurried  to  return  by 
the  hackman,  and  have  not  time  to  look  around.  As 
there  arc  now  accomodations  on  the  ground  for  visitors, 
and  ample  conveyances  by  omnibuses  and  hacks  for  their 
return  at  all  hours,  it  is  better  to  stop  at  the  bridge  on  the 
road  und  walk  out.  The  distance  is  short  and  the  walk 
I  will  form  a  pleasant  one  after  the  ride.     Before  coming  in 

sight  of  the  river,  the  road  enters  a  bowery  of  forest  trees, 
the  close  and  luxuriant  foliage  of  which  forms  a  cool  and 
sombrous  shade,  very  refreshing  in  the   prevailing  heats  of 

summer. 

As  the  party  advances  towards  a  summer-house  near 
the  bank  of  the  river,  proceeded  by  the  guide,  one  of  the 
pnrty  inquires  —  "  Where  is  the  Whirlpool  1" 

Guide.— "This  is  the  place.     From  this   point,    you 
perceive    the  waters    api)roaching,    with    great   velocity. 
They    pass    before   us,    towards    the   shore  of  Canada ; 
then  they  devidc,  part  passes  off  to  the  right,  but  a  large 
portion   is  propelled  back,  forming  the  counter  current ; 
between  thai  and  the  main  channel,    arc   the   eddies  and 
the  Whirlpool.     By  looking  through  this  prospect-glass, 
you  will  distinguish  more  plainly    the  logs   and   timber ; 
which,  from  the  distance  wc  arc  from  them,  to  the  naked 
eye  appear  quite  small.     With  this,  you   will  also  per- 
ceive the  magnitude  of  the  vortex  around  which  they  are 
carried.    To  view  the  Whirlpool  advantageously,  c  glass 
fiVinnlrl  alwavs  bo  used." 


1 


JAUNT   TO    THE    WHIRLPOOr. 


189 


Tlin  oullRf. 


ntering 
;u8tom- 
^arriagc 
id  ;  the 
turn  by 
id.     As 
vieilors, 
iT  their 
on  the 
he  walk 
ning  in 
st  trees, 
;ool  and 
heats  of 

ise  near 
\c  of  the 

int,  you 
velocity. 
Canada  ; 
t  a  large 
current ; 
dies  and 

3Ct-gla88, 

timber ; 
he  naked 
also  per- 

thcy  are 
Yj  e  glass 


After  contemplating  the  prcmpeet  fl.r  some  time,  with 
much  aatiefaction,  in.iuiry  is  made,  ''  What  course  docs 
the  nver  take,  from  this  ?" 

The  guide  lend.  ll»o  way,  saying,  -  We  will  advance  a 
short  distance.     Now  look  below." 

Traveller.-''  Snint  Mary  !  what  a  scene  ia  this  !" 
One   of  the   ladies.-"  IJow   beautiful   and  clear,  and 
yet  how  powerful  and  rapid  !     With  what  coiumotion  it 
bounds  away  I     la  this  a  branch  of  the  Niagara  ? 

Guide.-''  Still  move  a  few  steps  closer  to  the  bank, 
and  you  will  perceive  that  the  stream  below  is  truly  the 
Niagara.  Its  sudden  turn,  the  contraction  of  the  chan- 
nel the  high  and  approaching  banks,  and  the  dark  and 
swelling  water  of  the  outlet,  strikes  every  one  with  sen- 
sations  of  admiration." 

Traveller.-"  Tastolcsg  to  the  marvellous  and  surpri- 
s.ng  beauties  of  nature  would  he  be,  who  can  behold 
these,  her  noble  works,  without  emotion." 

"  Nature  here 
Wantons  in  her  prime,  and  plays  at  will 
Her  vifgui  fancies." 

Guide.-"  These  are  the  points  spoken  of,  as  beinrr 
practicable  to  connect  together  by  a  suspension  brid  J 
Though  the  inhabitants  of  Lewidon  and  Queenston  ha've 
companies  incorporated  for  that  purpose,  and  ser.ously 
contemplate  to  build  a  bridge  ^  ,  .  their  villacrcs,  yet 
the  distance  across  the  river,  at  I.  -  iston,  is  muHi  fur- 
ther than  here." 

As  nearly  all  the  travellers,  that  visit  the  Whirb.ool 
descend  the  bank,  and  consider  thcraBelves  wellpa-^  {br 
Jhe  trouble,  the  party  conclude  to  go  down. 


190 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


StniiP  thrown  to  t'aiiadu. 


The  guide  lends  the  way,  imd  with  eorno  labor  aud 
exertion,  thovi^'h  not  more  than  is  healthy  exercise,  they 
dcBcenu.  lie  conducls  tlicni  to  the  Smooth  Rock,  against 
which  dnshcB  the  powerl'iil  nnd  resifitless  current. 

"Here."  ho  observes,  **a  youns,'  man  by  the  name 
of  Snnniel  Whitner,  of  this  township,  threw  a  jtone  that 
Btruck  the  (-nnndn  Bhorc." 

Several  of  the  party,  being  disposed  to  try  their  skill 
and  strength,  make  the  same  attempt.  Whether  they 
Bueceod  or  not,  has  not  been  reported. 

Traveller. — "  I  think  I  have  seen  it  mentioned  in  some 
pul)lic'ation,  that  there  is  a  cave  near  the  Whirlpool.  If 
worthy  of  notice,  we  will  visit  it." 

The  guide  acknowledges  that  he  is  ignorant  of  its  loca- 
tion; that  he  knew  but  one  person  who  had  visited  it,  and 
his  account  was  very  vague  an  1  unsatisfactory;  stating 
that  he  entered  but  a  short   distance;    that   it  was  very 
dark,  and  that  he  did  not  like  to  go  in  alone.     The  same 
person  also  said,  that  he  observed,  near  the  cave,  many 
valuable  mineral   specimens;  and,  that  spot  not  having 
been  visited  by  travellers,  he  thought  more  minerals  might 
be  picked  up,  than  at  any  other  place.     The  cave,  he 
said,  was  about  thi:'./  rods  up  the  river  from  the  path  that 
descends  the  bank.     The  .>uide  exi'f?  ues  a  desire  to  lead 
the  party  in  that  direction,  and  explore  it  out;  but,  the 
route  appearing  very  ditFicult,  the  offer  is  declined. 

The  almost  impenetrability  of  the  trees  and  bushes, 
the  rocks  hanging  dangerously  above,  and  the  necessity 
of  climbing  and  again  descending  many  steep  and  forbid- 
ding passes,  have,  as  yet,  prevented  a  full  exploration  of 
this  place;  but  it  will  be  different  for  the  future.     The 


L^ 


JAUNT   TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 
Iniproveineiiis  \ito\iOHin\. 


191 


doHcent  down  the  bank  will  I,,  mmle  convenient,  the  whole 

v.cimty  will  be  exan.ine.l,  nn.i  many  obstacles  will  be  re- 

moved   Ihot  impede    (hu   rnn.biee  of  visitors  around   IhiH 

«pot;  and  without  elFecting  the  wild  ronmntic  aspect  of 

•  '<'  l''«''^',  '"nke  every  p(,int  aeee.«iblc  that  visiters  may 

desire   fo  view.     Heretofore    no   person  ha.s  re.id.'d  near 

the  Whirlpool,  and  there  was  no  ncconunodalion  or  pro- 

v.H.on  for  the  condort  of  travellers.     It  will  now  be  made 

n.ore  agreeable  for  a  protracted  stay  to  those  who  desire 
to  tarry. 

One  of  the  parly  expresses  some  surprise,  that  this 
water  power  has  not  been  brought  into  use;  -  :he  rapids, 
though  laiger,  are  similar  to  those  above  the  Falls,  and 
they  may  be  controlled  in  the  same  wuy." 

Guide -.'^  The  hill,  or  high  bank  appears  to  be  the 
o:ily  obfctaele." 

Traveller.--  That,  now,  is  of  but  little  consequence, 
ns  power  may  be  u.ed  at  almost  any  distance,  by  n^enn^ 
t^l^      '         "  "''  coniined  and  conveyed  in  cast 

Some  of  the  party  seek  for  new  and  strange  plants, 
foi  .his  place,  dec  Iris  island,  produces  many  varieties, 
not  readily  found  in  other  parts  of  the  country. 

"  And  midst  the  cra-jry  piles  andlmuldcrs,  here 
Wild  plant.s  and  trees,  with  vcrdam  tops,  uppear  • 
1  ncommon  herl.s,  pe<-iili:ir  to  the  place 
Peep  throu'^h  the  fissures,  and  the  prospect  grace. 
Here  the  sa^'e  hotanist  delights  to  stay, 
And  in  deep  study  wiJe  the  time  awny." 

Having  spent  some  time  below  the  bank,  in  ramblin. 
over  the  mcks,  and  engraving  .heir  .amea  npon  the  rocks 


192 


JAUNT   TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


- 


w 


Return  to  tlie  upper  bank. 


or  trees,  they  retrace  their  steps.  Arriving  at  the  top  of 
the  hill,  they  proceed  along  the  upper  bank  for  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  or  more.  Here  are  presented  some  ih  Ae  views 
of  the  formidable  river,  driving  furiously  along. 

*'  Thou  sec3t  not  all:  but  piece-meal  thou  must  brenk 
To  separate  contemplation,  the  great  whole  ; 
And,  as  the  ocean  many  bays  will  make, 
That  ask  the  eye,  so,  here,  condense  thy  soul 
To  more  inmiediate  objqcls,  and  control 
Thy  thouf;hts,  until  thy  mind  hath  got  by  heart, 
Its  eloquent  proportions,  and  unroll 
Its  mighty  graduations,  part  by  part. 
The  glory  which,  at  once  upon  Ihee  did  not  dart." 

No  scenes  more  enlarge  themselves  on  the  mind,  the 
more  thoy  are  vie'-  'ed,  than  those  around  the  Whirlpool. 
Who  casts  but  a  furtive  glance  and  then  hastens  away, 
enjoys  but  little,  and  drinks  not  of  the  cup  of  inspiration 
which  nature  here  presents  in  nil  her  greatness  and  sub- 
limity. To  those  who  live  not  distant,  who  love  the  pure 
air  and  delight  in  the  wild  woods,  the  brown  and  broken 
rocks,  deep  caverns,  and  roaring  floods,  re-visit  this  spot 
again  and  again  with  renewed  pleasure.  Many  from  afar, 
who  have  cast  but  a  slight  and  hasty  glance,  and  turned 
unsatisfied  away,  have  afterwards  regretted  their  apathy, 
and  have  longed  to  retrace  their  steps  and  to  review  the 

scene. 

The  following  inscription,   without   date,    was   lately 

found  at  that  place: 

"  Flow  on  in  the  garment  of  spray 
Which  God  hath  given  thee. 
And  fill  all  other  souls,  as  thou  hast  mine. 
With  wonder  and  praise." 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


193 


Maoisiroin,  of  iN'orway, 


Having  traversed  the  shore  till  wearied  with  the  walk, 
they  return  to  the  siin.nier-house,  where  they  seat  and 
rest  themselves.  While  enjoying  the  cool  retreat,  and 
the  beauty  of  the  prospect,  the  conversation  is  still  on 
the    scene  before  them.      O 


IK 


enquires  — '<  Do  you  not 
suppose  it  possible  to  cro.e  the  river,  here,  in  safety  ?" 
The  guide  replies-'' No  one  has  ever  thought  it  pos- 
sible; though  a  life  boat  has  been  spoken  of,  and,  if  ob- 
tained, there  is  n  person  at  the  Falls,  bv  the  name  of 
Joel  R.  Robinson,  a  mont  skilful  waterman,  who  would 
not  hesitate  to  attempt  it."* 

To  which,  another  gentleman  adds— '<  With  such  a 
boat,  no  doubt,  it  might  be  accomplished.  While  look- 
ing  at  the  Whirlpool,  of  Niagara  river,  my  thoughts  have 
been  drawn  to  the  Maelstrom,  of  Norway  ;  contrasting 
the  two  together,  to  discover  if  there  is  any  resemblance 
between  them;  but  I  find  none." 

An  American  gentleman,  who  sailed  along  the  edge  of 
the  Maelstrom,  says:  "  The  waves  foamed  around  us  in 
every  form.  The  sensations  I  experienced,  are  difficult 
to  describe.  Imagine  to  yourself  an  immense  circle,  mo- 
ving  round,  of  a  diauiefer  of  one  and  a  half  miles,  the 
velocity  increasing  as  it  approximates  towards  the  centre, 
and  gradually  changing  its  dark  blue  color  to  white  — 
foaming,  tumbling,  rushing  to  the  vortex  — very  much 
concave,  as  much  so  as  the  water  in  a  tunnel  when  half 
run  out;  the  noise,  too,  hineing,  roaring,  dashing  — all 
pressing  on  the  mind  at  once  — presented  the  most  "awful, 

*This-  wfis  puhlisli-,1  of  Rol)inson  two  inonth=i  l.pfore  liis  rescue 
of  Ch;ipin  from  the  island. 


Is 


mm 


m 


194 


JAUNT   TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


I'   I 


I,! 


It? 


If.-  r 


In 


1* 


Slirnhs  and  I'lants. 


grnnd,  and  solemn  sight  I  ever  beheld.  It  is  evidently  n 
subterranean  puBBP.gc.  From  its  magnitude,  I  should  not 
doubt,  but  that  inetant  destruction  would  be  the  fate  of 
a  dozen  of  our  largest  ships,  if  they  were  drawn  in  the 
same  inomcnt." 

As  to  the  foaming,  tumbling,  dashing,  and  roaring,  our 
eyes  and  ears  must  witness  that  the  scene  before  us  can- 
not be  surpL'Sried;  but  the  great  peculiarity  of  the  Mael- 
strom, the  tunncl-likc  appearance,  is  not  found  here. 

Traveller. — "  If  the  improvenienta  were  made,  of 
which  the  place  is  susceptible,  it  would  make  a  beautiful 
■  country  retreat.  The  ground8,  west  of  the  road,  1  would 
enclose  as  a  jxirk;  the  forest  part  should  be  cleared  of  the 
imder-growlh,  leaving  here  and  there,  dense  as  it  now 
is,  a  clump  of  indigcnious  shrubs  and  plants,  as  impervious 
as  nature  has  reared  them.  The  whole  should  be  inter- 
sected with  roads  and  walks;  steps,  also,  to  descend  the 
bank;  a  bathing  and  fishing  house;  a  life-boat  on  the 
river;  and  a  suspension  bridge,  from  bank  to  bank.  The 
water  power  should  be  brought  into  use,  in  carrying  on 
mills  and  manufactories;  and  my  cottage  should  be  in  the 
midst  of  the  active  and  rural  scene." 

Guide. — **To  which  could  be  added  a  view  of  the 
Falls,  at  a  distance,  if  the  woods  on  yon  i)(>int  of  land  at 
the  south,  in  Canada,  were  cut  down.  This  place  was 
one  of  the  favorite  purchases  of  Ilalhbun,  and  on  which 
he  very  justly  placed  a  high  value.  It  was  he  who  erected 
the  summer-house,  and  it  was  his  design  to  carry  into 
effect  many  of  the  improvements  which  you  have  just 
mentioned. 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 

Benjamin  ilutlibun. 


195 


m 


HENJAMIX   RATHBUN. 

"  f?ny,  why  we  strive  a  lustroua  name  to  pain 
Ami  Jivc  in  t-une,  for  vain  ambition's  sake?" 

A8  there  is,  at  almost  every  important  point  in  this 
Vicmity  Bome  work  remaining  of  the  taste  and  enter- 
pn8e  of  this  individual,  and  so  many  inquiries  are  made 
relative  to  hin.,  it  is  proper  to  give  to  the  public  such  no- 
ticcs  as  have  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  author.  Per- 
.^apsno  more  strong  delusion  ever  cnme  over  the  public 
nimd,  as  to  any  man,  than  prevailed  in  reference  to 
Katfabim. 

In  1816  he  kept  a  public  house  at  Sherburne,  in  the 
State  of  New- York.  Near  his  tavern,  he  had  a  -tore  of 
goods:  he  also  issued  notes,  as  a  private  banker.  His 
store  was  fitted  up  in  a  superior  style,  and  the  interior 
of  his  public  house  was  really  a  model,  and  the  admira- 
tion  of  travellers.  It  was  much  in  advance,  in  appearance 
and  in  general  accommodations,  over  the  other  public 
houses  of  the  country. 

He  soon  after  failed;  and,  much  reduced,  he  sought  for 
employment  in  another  part  of  the  country.     It  is  stated 
that  the   relations   of  Mrs.    Ralhbun   proposed  that  she 
should  return  to  them,  her  hu.band  being  alike  bankrupt 
in   property  and    character  ;   but  she  declined  the  offer, 
preferring  to  share  adversity  as  well  as  prosperity  ^viih 
the  man  of  h.r  choice.     He  first  came  to  Niagara  Falls, 
and  proposed  to  get  a  public  house  built  for  his  occupation 


196 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRM'OOL. 


KiUhbim  — ii»reer  hngun. 


there;  but,   relinquiehinff  Hint  U\m,   he  succeeded  in  ob- 
taining charge  of  the  Kaglo  Tavern,  nt  Bullalo.     Under 
his  mnnngemcnt,  the  rcpulalion  of  that  bouse  was  soon 
roised  from  a  very  low  state,  to  one  of  the  highest  char- 
acter.    He  enlarged  Ibe  buildings,  and  erected  adjoining 
ones.     Every  thing  he  did  wna  in  good  style.     As  a  land- 
lord, he  became  ominciit ;  all   tbat   called  on  him,  were 
pleased,   and  commended  him   to  otbcrp.     Ilia   bar  was 
eaid  to  be  slocked  wilh  the  choicest  wines  ;  his  table  was 
abundant ;    his  beds,   the   best  evidence  of  a  well  kept 
house,  every  thing  the  weary  traveller  could  desire ;  and 
his  servants  were  the   most   attentive  and  obliging.     It 
was,  in  those  dayn,   a  luxury  to  be  a  guest  at  the  Eagle 
Tavern.     The  citiz.ens  of  BuiValo  were  proud  of  such  a 
public-house,  and  such  a  landlord  ,  and  well  they  might: 
he  was  a  credit  to  the  calling   in   which   he  was  enga- 
ged,  and  an  honor  to  the  place. 

While  his  hotel  was  so  well  conducted,  many  were 
his  guests  that  came  and  went  away,  without  seeing  the 
landlord,  to  know  him  ;  yet  were  delighted  with  his 
house.  He  moved  through  it  quietly  and  unobtrusively, 
directing  about  every  thing,  vm\  seeing  to  the  comfort 
and  acconnnodation  of  his  company,  without  their  no- 
tice. 

To  Benjamin  Rathbun,  more  than  any  other  man,  the 
public,  in  every  portion  of  the  United  States,  arc  mainly 
indebted,  for  raising  the  standing  and  character  of  Ameri- 
can public-houses  to  their  present  splendid  condition. 

In  18:11,  he  was  employed  to  build  the  banking-house 
of  the  United  States  Branch  Bnnk,  at  Buffalo.  He  had 
been  rapidly    gaining    in    chnraciur  and  credit ;    and  he 


1  in  ob- 
Uiuler 
vm  soon 
!Bt  chnr- 
idjoinin^ 
a  a  Innd- 
m,  were 
bar  wna 
able  was 
i^ell  kept 
ire ;  and 
^ing.     It 
le  Eagle 
if  such  a 
!y  might: 


'08  engii- 


iny  were 
}eing  the 
with  his 
trueively, 
}  comfort 
their  no- 
man,  the 
re  mainly 
of  Ameri- 
ition. 
ing-houso 
He  had 
;    and  he 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


197 


ip^ 


Jtatlihun  —  licivy  npcratiorifi 


now  fairly  commenced  on  the  extraordinary  career  which 
he  altcrwnrds   run.     Having   correct    ideas,  as  to  build- 
ings and   improvements,   he  met    with   ready  encourare- 
inent   from    an    enterprising   people.     First,    he   erected 
houses,  for  others,  on  contract;  then  he   gradually  com- 
menced  to  buy  lands,  and  build  for  hiinself.     As  he  mado 
improvements  upon  the  l.md.s,  he   j.urchnsed,    every  new 
acqmsition,  assoonasitwn^known   to   be   in  his  hands 
rose   in   value,    and    carried    up   nil    the  proi,erty  in  the 
neighborhood.     Hence    arose   the    great   Butlalo  spe'>ula. 
tions,  which  crazed  the   head   of  every   body.     He  was 
extolled  for  his  superior   discernment  and  capability  for 
business.     It  was  said,    "  Hi«  affairs   went    like   clock- 
work."       "He   has    a   most    perfect   system."       ''He 
knows  the  value  of  property  better  than  any  man  in  Buf- 
lalo."     Whene/er   be   fixed  his  eye   favorably  upon  any 
spot,  speclulators  were  alive  to  overbid  him,  and  obtain 
the  bargain.     The  inhabitants  of  the    surrounding,  and 
even   distant  villages,   courted  his   acquaintance,  and  so- 
hcited   him   to  make    purchases    among   them ;    for  the 
fact  of  his  making  a  purchase  in  any  place,  was  at  once 
the  cause  of  property  advancing  to  double  and  treble  its 
former  value.     At  length,   he   was  called  'Uhe  mighty 
operator,"    ''the    Girard  of    the   West";  and,    it    was 
added,   ''Buffalo    will    erect    a   statue   to  his  memory." 
''  He  has  laid  his  hands  on  the  most  valuable  property 
in  the  city  and  country."     "  He  is  worth  more  than  two 
imlhons  of  dollars."     8omc  few  had  apprehensions  that 
his  condition  would  not   turn  out  so  well,    and  hinted 
that,  after  all,  he   might  fail.      "  No,    he    won't    fail  " 
Would    hfi    Ihe    r'^n'u     "  tk!    -^  Ur.      u      u       i  -     ' 

-JO   r.p4,       aiia  u  hQ  Khouldj  ihe  people  of 


fm 


198 


JAUNT    TO    THK    WHIRLPOOL. 


¥4Ul 


Rill hburi  — his  character. 


Buffalo  will  suBtain  liini."  Tbc  wifiost  and  Boundest 
men  in  Ihc  comnmnity  Pnnk  benontb  him  in  the  public 
estimation;  and  cvun  sucb,  eecmcd  to  bave  parted  with 
their  wits,  as  they  fell  in  his  train,  lauded  his  talents, 
favored  his  magnificent  undertakinga,  and  certified  as  to 
his  success.  He  was  flooded  with  the  oilers  of  property, 
of  bnrgains,  and  of  plans  and  enterprises.  No  important 
work  could  go  forward  without  his  aid,  as  one  of  the 
proprietors,  or  managers,  llis  name  was  considered  as  a 
sanction — the  guarantee  of  successful  operation.  The 
multiplicity  of  his  business  became  such,  that  those  who 
called  on  him  could  have  but  so  much  of  his  time;  and 
the  highest  in  society  thought  it  no  disparagement  to  run 
round  the  city  after  him,  and  then  wait  their  turn  to  ad- 
dress him.  Now  it  was  said,  "  lie  cnn.  do  any  thing." 
**  He  hath  the  power  of  a  sultan." 

During  his  whole  career,  he  lived  in  good,  but  not 
ostentatious  style.  Sometimes  n  party  would  be  got  up, 
ofthe  fashionables  to  go  to  the  Fulls;  in  that  case,  there 
would  be  a  little  more  bhow.  The  carriage,  or  sleigh, 
that  carried  his  family,  would  be  the  richest,  the  harness 
the  most  elegant,  and  the  horses  the  most  noble;  his 
whole  equipage  outshining  all  the  rest.  And  why  should 
it  not  have  been  so  ?  All  others  sunk  themselves  to 
pigmies  by  his  side;  oil  eyes  sought  for  him;  '*  he  was 
the  admired  of  all."  He  was  the  theme  of  every  body's 
conversation.  Phrenologists  discovered  an  extraordinary 
contour  in  the  formation  of  his  head,  and  developments 
of  capacity  far  exceeding  any  they  had  ever  noticed  in 
other  subjects. 

Oil  the  day  of  the  jircat  m\c  of  lots,  at  Niagara  Ftillh 


soundest 
e  public 
ed  with 
talents, 
cd  OB  to 
:)ropcrty, 
nportant 
le  of  the 
ered  as  a 
n.      The 
lose  who 
ime;  and 
it  to  run 
rn  to  ad- 
^  thing." 

but  not 
i  got  up, 
ise,  there 
)r  sleigh, 
)  harness 
loble;  hia 
ay  should 
iselves  to 
'*  ho  was 
ry  body's 
aordinary 
}lopment8 
loticed  in 


ara  Fallo 


'-'? 


^AUNTjro^HK    WHIRLPOOL.  I99 

ItatJibun  —  Iiis  t'ttil.         ~  '       ' 

""''  :'"■"  '  «  -'■'"«  «'-y  "f  W«  fraud,  he  know  wout; 
-n  ho  p„.,  .hod  to  ,he  ,v„rM;  when  the  b.,r.hl.  „ 
i.»ve   preyed    „po„    his   ,„i,„l  l,k„  „„„„,  ,„„,.  "  "";;' 

nmn,  „f  n„,eh  knowledge  of  ,„„„ki„d,  to  who,,,  lilZZ 
was  unknown,  desired  to  have   hin,   po.nted    out     and 
.    .•rsee„,g  „nd  ohservin«  hin,  for  son,e  ti,ne,  he'aid- 
How  ,„.,eh  ,„ore  aetive  and  able  R„,hh.„,  ^,,Jt„ 
~  -'     ""■nl'"'"ng   Ihe  name  of  ,„,„  „f  ,,,„  ^■ 

and  „,ost  act,ve  ,nen  in  the  country.     Su,h  ,„,  ,^0  deT„ 
»,onlhatprev„,ledw,than,  „s  to  the  es,i,„„tio„  of  r1 
'""  '  •='''"'"^'"  "'"'  ■""li'y-     None  felt  hi,nself  den,eaned 
l.yaw„rdn,«  to  him  superior  an.l  exeelling  powers      I, 
not  wonderful,  that  in  beholdin-.  ihe  .e,rer!l      f  .'    , 
he  too,  should  bcome  beside  bU^^l  ""'"  '"*"""'""■' 

"  tJr,-,-,l  «  ii,  are,  surr,  ,„  ,r„„|„c,s  „,,,„  ,„|,^,, 
A„u  ,l,i„_,,ar(i,io„3  Jo  ll.cir  bouu.la  ,livije."' 

His  own  sohe,nes  of  a„,biti„„  were  boundless,  and    be 
«"des,  he  had  the  visionary  views  of  olber«  hi    7 
ain,.  and  he  heca„,e  the  broL,  eolXit.^lr 
«1  .he  spceulating  mania  of  that  time.    He  was  f   ttl    .' 
."'o  an  opinion  of  the  perfectness  of  his  judgment 
"»de  to  believe  that  he  was  worth  mill,C„s     s"  ilM     "" 
'"  W-.  of  the  means  to  earry  into  effl"  „lf  h     '    ,:;: 
v.«.c,ns,  or  yet  there  remaine.l  to  be  secured  som^f.       7 

rtTitir 

Nothmg  can  be  said  in  j„s„fiealion  of  sueh  conduct , 


gym 


III 


it" 


'*MiHtottf^> 


200 


JAUNT   TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


Uailrottds,  mills,  factorips,  &c. 


yet,  it  is  charitable  to  believe,  thnt  it  was  his  intention 
to  cancel  every  liability.  As  he  daily  had  brought  to  his 
notice,  the  immense  value  of  hie  estate,  doubtless  he 
vainly  supposed  he  could,  at  any  hour,  sweep  away  every 
vestige  of  fraud.  But  the  volcano,  on  which  he  reposed, 
burst  forth,  and  plunged  him  into  irretrievable  ruin;  leav- 
ing  his  buildings,  his  improvements,  and  all  his  valuable 
acquisitions,  to  be  sacrificed,  and  to  become  the  property 

of  others. 

Rathbun  committed  no   frauds  to  lavish  the   avails  m 
.  debauchery,  or  in  criminal  pursuits  of  any  kind.     Very 
'  industrious ;    regular    in   his  habits,  and  attached  to  his 
family,  he  lived  quietly  in  his  own  domestic  circle;  devo- 
tedly  beloved  by  his  wife,  a  very   amiable  woman,  and 
esteemed  by  all  his  acquaintance.     He  was  just  in  his 
dealing  with  those  who  labored  for  him,   settling  with 
them,  and  paying  them  with  great  regularity.     A  course 
80  honrst  and  commendable,  made  him  very  popular  with 
his  workmen..    His  great  aim  appears  to  have  been  to 
give  celebrity  to  the  name  of  Benjamin  Rathbun..  and  that 
he  sought  to  do,  by  the  erection  of  fire-proof  stores,  spa- 
cious  dwelling  houses,  noble  hotels,  and  magnificent  ex- 
changes, and  to  beautify  and  adorn  the  country  by  useful 
and  elegant  improvements.      The   building  of  railroads, 
mills,  factories,  and  steamboats,  all  were  among  his  opera- 
tions, or  entered  into  his  plans.     For  accomplishing  objects 
like  these,  his  offence  was  committed,  and  not  for  any 
criminal  purposes.     He  erred  greatly,  in  not  at  once  ac- 
knowledging  the  charges  against  him,  and  in  not  throwing 
himself  upon  the  mercy  of  the  court,  and  commisse.ation 
of  the  commuiiity.     Such  boundless  ambition,    however 
directed,  can  never  be  approved. 


JAUNT   TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


201 


tcnlion 
to  his 
less  he 
y  every 
epoeed, 
i;  leav- 
raluable 
)roperty 

ivails  in 
.     Very 
d  to  hia 
e;  devo- 
inn,  and 
)t  in  his 
ing  with 
h.  coursG 
iilar  with 
been  to 
and  that 
ores,  spa- 
icent  ex- 
by  useful 
railroads, 
ilia  opera- 
ng  objects 
)t  for  any 
t  once  ac- 
t  throwing 
tiiBse^atiou 
Vinwever 


Devil's  Hole. 


The  enda  of  juetiee  have  now  been  answered:  he  may 
again  be  an  useful  man.  Let  hia  friends  osk  for  the  ro- 
mission  of  the  further  penalty  of  the  law.  Let  them  do 
more:  let  them,  at  some  suitable  place,  build  a  public 
house,  equal,  if  nut  surpassing  any  in  the  United  States, 
and  make  Rathbnn  tlic  landlord.  Such  an  act  would  be 
kindness  to  him,- would  confer  a  favor  upon  those  who 
travel,  and  the  proprietors  would  soon  find  their  stock 
profitable. 

Returning  to  the  Lodge  at  the  road  side,  the  party  take 
their  seats  in  their  own,  or  in  one  of  the  regular  carnages. 


BATTLE  OF  THE  DEVIl's  HOLE. 

"  Once  this  soft  turf,  the  riv'Iet's  sands, 
Were  trampled  by  a  hurrying  crowd  ; 
And  fiery  hearts,  find  armed  hands, 
Encountered  in  the  battle  cloud." 

A  mile  from  the  Whirlpool,  the  road  rnns  within  a  few 
feet  of  the  river's  bank,  where  a  deep  and  gloomy  chasm 
is  rent  or  worn  out  of  the  rock.  This  is  called  the  Devil's 
Hole,  and  the  small  stream  which  crosses  the  road  and 
falls  in  the  chasm,  is  the  Bloody  Run. 

In  1759,  while  the  war  was  yet  raging  between  Eng- 
land and  France,  a  detachment  of  one  himdred  British 
regulars  were  conveying  a  large  supply  of  provisions,  beef 
cattle,  and  munitions  of  war,  to  Fort  Schlosser.  Indians 
were  employed  by  both  parties.  Those  in  the  interest  of  the 


.l«Hlii 


.*.  f* 


■  ^^^t^^fitlgg^lj^. 


't 


I        '  ■!, 


ii'l 


tV 


202 


JATTNT  TO   THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


Th(*  iiiiibuHnwlc. 


French,  hnd  beon  'ir  eome  dnys  hovering?  about  Ibc  T5ril- 
ish  camp,  and  when  the  convoy  set  out,  they  were  on  the 
nlert.     At  this  place,  they  formed  their  anibuscado,  and 
never  was  there  a  spot  more  favoral)le  for  such  a  manoeu- 
vre.    The  road  passed  down  a  small  hill,  and  continued 
on  a  level  for  about  a  hundrcl  rods,  when  it  again  rose 
on  hifjher  ground.     The  northern  portion  of  the  road  is 
now  slightly  varied.     The  ascents  were  united  by  an  do- 
vated  ridge  of  level  land,  which  was  covered  wilh  wood, 
and  commanded  the   road   for  the   whole  distance.     On 
the  right  of  the  advancing  party  was  the  high  bank  of 
the   Niagara  river,    and  on    the  left    the   ridge,   and  at 
each  extremity  the  two  small  hills.     The  party,  unsiiR- 
pecting  any  attack,  moved  forward  on  the  .. "d;  when  the 
front  of  the  detachment  reached  the  end   of  the  ravine, 
the  Indian   fiistes  were  opened  upon  them   with  deadly 
rim;  then  followed  the  dread  war-whoop,  as  if  a  thousand 
wolves  were  howli.ig  and  yelling  around  them.     Indeed, 
their  assailants  were  more  fierce  and  ferocious   than  the 
wild  beasts  of  the  forest. 

♦'  Pale  terror  innrcli'd  nmid  tlic  yielding  baivl, 
Chiird  every  heart,  unncrv'd  each  iron  hun(il." 

Many  of  the  soldiers  were  killed  at  the  first  discharge, 
and  the  others  were  thrown  into  hopeless  confusion.  The 
Indians  fell  like  tigers  upon  the  drivers,  tomahawked 
them  in  their  seats,  and  threw  them  under  foot.  The 
waggons  were  backed  ofT  the  precipice,  and  men  and 
cattle  fell  with  the  loading  in  one  dismembered  and  mu- 
tilated mass.  Some  threw  themselves  from  the  bank, 
and  full  mangled  and  dying  on  the  rocks;  others  lodged 


m 


JAITNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


203 


]c  Tlrit- 
)  on  tbo 
ulo,  and 
nnnoeu- 
mliniied 
nin  roHC 
1  road  is 
y  nn  elr- 
h  wood, 
re.     On 

bank  ot 
,  and  at 
•,  iinsiiR- 
,hcn  tho 
}  ravine, 
h  deadly 
Ibousand 

Indeed, 
than  the 


lischarge, 
:>n.  The 
mhawkcd 
.of.  The 
men  and 
and  mu- 
he  bank, 
srs  lodged 


Four  persons  rsrapo. 


in  the  branches  of  the  trees,  where  they  remained,  disa- 
bled, unlil  the  affray  was  over,  when  the  savage-  at  their 
leisure  despatebod  thcni.       The  horror  of  the  e.ene  can 
be  but  faintly  imarined.     The  quiek  report  of  the  fmec., 
the  yells  of  the  Indians,  the  bellowing  of  the  cat,'-      ^o 
shneks  of  the  wounded  and  dying,  mingled  with  the  mo- 
notonous  roar  of  the  mngos  of  the  Niagara,  which  rose 
from   below  ns  in   mockery  of  the  follv,   the  strife,    and 
dying  groan«  of  men.     The  brook  that  courses  over  the 
bank,   ran  red  wifj,  the  blood  of  the  .lain.     A  person,  by 
the  name  of  Stedman,  escaped  bv  cutting  the  bridle  of 
his  horse,   which  an  Indian  had  seized.     The  horse  fled 
with  him   up  tho  small  stream,  and   came  again  to  the 
Niagara  river,  at  the  mouth  of  a  creek  now  called  Gill 
creek.     The    heirs,  or  representatives  of  this   man  have 
since  set  up  a  pretended  title  to  the  tract  of  land  which 
he  encompassed  in  his  retreat,  bounding  west  on  the  Nia- 
gara  river,  and  say  that  the  Indians  gave  him  the  land, 
as  ''a  medicine,"  for  his  loss  at  the  Devil's  Hole      No 
deed  or  confirmation  of  title  being  produced  to  our  courts, 
the  claim  was  not  admitted. 

Sledman's  brother  threw  himself  down  the  bunk   and 
was  fortunately,   without  injury,  caught  in  thetop'of  a 
pine  tree;   thence,  he  descended  to  the  water's  edge,  and 
by   swmiming   in   some  places,   and  scrambling  through 
brakes  and  over  rocks  in  others,  he  succeeded  m  reaching 
the  landing    now  Lewiston.     Two  other  persons,  only, 
inn  e  good  their  e.cape:  all  of  the  others  were  destroyed, 
tntil  of  late  years,  pieces  of  the  waggons,  and  other  evi- 
dences  of  this  bloody  discomfiture,  existed;  but  they  have 
now  entirely  mouldered  away. 
17* 


'»  !l''li?llMll 

4  *"   I 


ateawiiHitri.mni 


l^'' 


204 


JAl'NT  TO   TIIF    wimn.rofM-. 
'I'lii-  Indian  \  illauc. 


At  Colt'R  tavern,  four  niilcfl  frnni    tb(>    Fnlls,   n  rond 
RtrikoH  oir  to  the  oast,  wliirli  h.ndri  to  tl.»(*  liidiuii  villnjio. 
As  the  IrnvollcrH  turn  lo  the  riglil,   the  ^niidc  pointa  to 
the  next  rising  gro\ind    in  Ripht,  on  the  Jjcwiston  rond, 
and  ohservcH — "there  rosidcd  un  honewt.   old  Dutch  far- 
mer, hy  the  name  of  March.     When  the  Uriti^hand  Iii- 
dinns    made    their   (hMtructive  incurHioti  on   tlie  front i<T, 
infornmtion    did    not     reach   him   in  season  to  mt.kc    hi.^ 
rbcai)e.     Whih;  he  was  harnoa«ini(  his  hor^e.-,  a  party  ol 
Indians  rushed    upon    him,  and    miirdcred    him    (>n    the 
iBpol.     Whih<  the  hloody  (hn'd  was  goin«  on,  in   front  oi 
the  houHe,  the  family  ellccted  thiiir  ewcape  to  the  woods. 
A  scouting  party  of  Americans,  Fomc  days  afterwards, 
paP'^ing  that  way,    foimd  hirf  own  hogs  eating  his  hody. 
Such  are  ihe  ahhorrent  EwJnes  which  war  prcK(>ntR. 


TUSCARORA    INDIANS. 


•'  Tliat  diff,  nictliinUp,  the  T)iflinn  cry 
IVals  fronj  its  siiiimiit,  shrill  ami  hi;,'h." 

They  are  n  part  of  the  trihe  of  Tuscaroras,  formerly 
inhabiting  North  Carolina.  They  came  to  this  country 
about  the  year  171*2,  and  joined  the  live  nations.  The 
whole  formed  the  warlike  confederacy  called  the  Six  Nn- 
lions.  They  live  on  a  tract  of  land  ceded  to  them  by  the 
Senecas,  of  one  by  three  miles,  and  also  four  thousand 
lUree  hundred  and  twenty-eight  acres  deeded  to  them  by 


n  roiid 
villnjj[C. 
lointH  !»• 
m  rond, 
ilcli  flll- 
and  Iii- 
tVoiilicf, 

\)tn\y  (il 
on  llic 
Inmt  i<\ 

i  woods. 

oivvard.^, 

Urt  hndy. 


formerly 
8  country 
)ne.  The 
)  Six  Nn- 
ixn  by  the 

thousand 
>  them  l>y 


JAI^NT   TO   TifK    vvirnu.pooL. 


205 


<l«n  ILdlnnd  ]juh\  ('on.pnpy.  Tho  UnKod  Slntrs,  in 
1HM7,  purchnscd  out  lluir  infrroflt,  nnd  tlioy  nre  to  |,o  re- 
niov.  d  to  (he  wrHl.  Tlu.y  nun.l.rr  om!v,  nl  (hin  li.nr, 
two  hundred  nnd  ni.dity.tiir..c  in(hvi,lunI.^  Tli.ir  present 
Vynu-n,n\  chic.f  is  Thoino^  Chow,  the  con  of  nn  Kn-dinh- 
in.'iti.  " 

Our  i)nr(y  havinfr  nrrivod  nt  the  villnirp,  Jook  info  f|,o 
wi-wnnis;  make  mcU  oh^orvationH,  and  lako  «uch  notoH 
<>'  tlin  ,Mi«toni8  an<I  niannern  of  the  inhahilnnle,  as  n  Mmrt 
nnd  hn.!y  vinil  alll.rd.;  purchase  gome  artick>«  of  Indian 
inaiiufacture:  or,  perhn].p,  seek  an  introduction  to  th'>  ve- 
r.end.Io  chi.f  Sa'-aris.a,  who  was  n  connnisRionod  olhcer 
HI  the  American  a  my,   in  the  revohitionarv  war.     If  it 
he  Su.id.My,  the  travellers  attend  the  place  of  i.ul.lic  wor- 
ship, where,  bcHides  the  interest  aflorded  by  the  sermon 
of  the  nuBHionary,  they  will  hear  it  translated  to  the  na- 
tives,  in  their  peculiar  frutlural  Inn-ruage  ;    and  also  hear 
HHisin-,   of  the    n.ost  superior  order.       The    Indians  are, 
.iusdy,    much   extolled  for    their  line   voices.      They  are 
very  fond  both  of  vocal  and  instrumental  nnisic. 

Anion-  their  distinguished  men,  there  was*  one,  some 
time  f-mce,  by  the  name  of 


LITTLE    CHIEF. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  by  our  -ov- 
ernment,  in  1812,  about  a  dozen  of  the  sachems  !and 
principal  men  of  (he  village,  with  much  formality,  called 
'-n  the  commanding  oiHcer  at  Fort  Niagara.     The  o/lh-ers 


I.    I 


A' 


'Ml 


m 


206 


JAU^T    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


f 


Indian  JSpcech. 


of  tlic  fort  assembled  at  the  commnndnnl's  quarters,  and 
being  seated,  Little  Chief  thus  expressed  himiself,  thro' 
John  Mountplcaoant,  a  noble  Indinn: 

<' He  6ny,v,"  spoke  the  interpreter,  "that  Captain 
Bruff  waa  the  first  American  that  took  possession  of  this 
fort.  He  received  it  peaceably  from  the  hands  of  the 
British.  He  and  his  troops  resided  here  in  peace;  tk^c 
was  no  war,  no  trouble.  He  went  away:  he  left  the  fort 
strong  ns  he  got  it.     He  did  well." 

"He    says,"— "Next    came    Major  Rcvardi,  and  still 

'  there  was  peace.     These  fortifications  remained  firm  and 

strong:  there  were  no  enemies  to   approach   them.      He 

went  away:  he  left  all  things  as  he  found  them.     He  did 

well." 

"He  suys,"— "Then  came  Captain  Wiley:  yet  there 
was  peace.  Friends  passed  from  one  side  of  the  river  to 
the  other:  the  warriors  rested  on  their  arms  in  security, 
and  there  were  none  to  call  them  to  battle.  He  went 
away.     He,  too,  left  the  fort  strong.     He  did  well." 

"He  says,"— " After  him,  came  Major  Porter  :  yet 
there  was  peace.  He  also  went  away.  He  left  all  things 
as  he  found  them.     He  did  well." 

"He  says,"— "  These  all  did  well,  You  came  next. 
You  found  the  fort  strong.  You  have  been  here  in  peace. 
You,  too,  have  done  well.  Now,  war  has  come.  This 
fort  is  of  great  importance  to  the  United  States.  Those 
that  came  before  you,  did  well  in  peace.  You  must  do 
well  in  war." 

"  He  says,"—"  We  have  come  to  tell  you,  that  we  are 
the  friends  of  the  United  States:  we  are  as  one  people. 
We  wish  to  offer  our  services  to  you:  our  warriors  will 


JATTNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


007 


An  Indian  Advenuire. 


'_         come. 


<Io   nil    Ihey  can  :    they  bold   Ihomselvos    rcndy  to   li.rht 
for  thifl  country.     When  you  need  xib,  cnll,  and  wc  will 


The  roinmanding  ofTiccr  mndo  a  suitable  reply,  slating 
that  if  their  services  should  be  required  for  defensive 
purposes,  the  government  of  the  United  States  would 
inform  them.  After  Great  Britain  had  set  the  example 
of  employing  Indians,  the  Tuscnroras  were  called  upon, 
and  no  Americana  behaved  better  than  they  did,  during 
Ihe  remainder  of  the  war. 

The  travellers  leave  the  village,  and  descend  the  moun- 
tain towards  Lcwi^ton. 


AN    INDIAN    ADVENTURE. 

"In  voice,  mien,  gesture,  savage  na'.ure  spoke." 

Just  below  the  mountain,  and  to  the  right  of  the  road 
which  descends  from  the  Tuscarora  village,  lives  Mr. 
Sparrow  Sage.  He  had,  on  the  ]9th  of  December,  1813, 
m  the  distressing  invasion  of  this  frontier,  been  driven 
from  his  home.  For  the  purpose  of  securing  his  harvest, 
lie,  the  summer  after,  returned  with  his  wife,  to  their 
exposed  and  solitary  dwelling.  One  day,  when  he  was 
at  work  at  some  distance  in  the  fields,  an  Indian,  attached 
to  the  British  cause,  entered  the  house.  He  demanded 
something  to  eat,  speaking  in  broken  English.  Mrs.  S. 
was  entirely  alone,  and  immediately  obeyed  his  bidding, 


!■;■.    i. 


I- 

t 

m 


208 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


An  abduclion  —  The  rescue. 


being   in   hopes    that   he  would,  after   eating,  go  away. 
After  he  had  finished  his  repast,  he  told  her  that  he  lived 
nt  Grand  River,  in  Canada,  and  that  he  had  come  after 
her   to  go  with  hini,  and  she  must  be  his  squaw.     She 
replied  to  him,  that  could  not  be,  for  she  had  a  husband. 
"No,  no,"  he   angrily   said,    ''You  very  pretty— you 
must  be  my  squaw  —  you   shall  go."     In  vain  she  told 
him  that  her  husband  and  others  were  near  by;  that  he 
had  better  go  away,  or  he  might  get  killed.     The  Indian 
then  took  down  Mr.  S's  gun,  and  finding  it  not  loaded, 
put  it  up  agaii..      Afterwards  he    ransacked   the  house, 
commanding  Mrs.  S.  not  to  leave  his  sight,  am'  keeping 
hi3  eye  upon   her.     He   firrst  appropriated  to  himself  all 
that  he  could  carry;  then,  seizing  her  forcibly  by  the  arm, 
dragged  her  out  of  the  back  door,  and  thence  towards  the 
woods,  in  the  direction  of  Fort  Niagara,  then  in  the  oc- 
cupation of  the  British.     The  husband  heard  the  screams 
of  his  wife,  and  hurrying  towards  the  house,  seized  an  axe 
which   was  lying  at   the  door,   and  followed   in  pursuit. 
He  came  up  to  them  at  the  fence,  on  the  border  of  the 
forest.     Not  letting  go  his  hold,  the  savage  fired  at  Mr.  S. 
as  he  ran  towards  them.     His  ball  did  not  take  effect ; 
and,  just  as  he  was  raising  his  victim  to  throw  her  over 
the  fence,  he  received  a  blow  from  the  axe,  which  broke 
his  rifle,  and  made  him  let  go  of  Mrs.  S.     He  then,  con- 
sulting his  own  safety,  leaped  over  the  fence;  but,  in  bo 
doing,  he  received  another  blow  from  the  axe,  which  made 
him  fill  the  forest  with  his  yells,  and  he  made  off  with  all 
the  speed  he  could,   into  the  thick  woods.     Mr.  S.  did 
not  think  porper  to  pursue,  but,  returning  with  his  wife, 
they    immediately    left  their  dangerous  habitation   for  a 
place  of  greater  security. 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


209 


JO  away. 

he  lived 
me  after 
w.  She 
hubband. 
ty— you 

she  told 
;  that  he 
le  Indian 
t  loaded, 
ic  house, 
'  keeping 
imself  all 

the  arm, 
tvards  the 
n  the  oc- 
;  screams 
ed  an  axe 
I  pursuit, 
der  of  the 
at  Mr.  S. 
ke  etfect; 

her  over 
lich  broke 
Ihen,  cou- 
)ut,  in  60 
liich  made 
IT  with  all 
Ir.  S.  did 
L  his  wife, 
lion   for  a 


Anollier  .ndventure. 


Mr.  William  Molyncux,  the  father  of  Mrs.  S.  had, 
the  winter  before,  occupied  the  same  residence.  About 
a  month  after  he  and  his  family  had  been  obliged  to  flee 
from  their  homes,  he  returned  very  cautiously.  He  er  - 
tered  his  house,  and  found  two  Indians  lying  dead  on  the 
floor.  A  party  of  American  militia-men  had  come  upon 
Ihem  unexpectedly,  while  they  were  carousing  upon  the 
good  fare  and  liquors  which  (he  occupants  had  left.  They 
were,  no  doubt,  abroad  for  murder  and  destruction,  and 
met  the  fate  ^hich  they  intended  for  others.  Mr.  M. 
dragged  their  bodies  from  the  house,  and  as  ho  had  no  aid 
or  time  to  bury  them,  he  formed  round  them  a  large  pile 
of  logs  and  rails,  and,  setting  fire  to  it,  they  were  consum- 
ed.  The  British  Indians  considered  it  quite  an  affiont, 
and  threatened  vengeance.  It  was  an  empty  threat,  for 
they  had  already  done  him  all  the  mischief  they  could. 


AN    ESCAPE    FROM    INDIANS. 

"  Though  few  Uie  numbers  —  theirs  the  strife, 
That  neither  spares  nor  seeks  for  life." 

Another  incid(  nt,  which  occurred  on  the  memorable 
invasion  before  alluded  to,  took  place  on  the  Ridge  Road, 
a  few  miles  east  of  Mr.  Molyneux's  public-house.  The 
roads  had  been  deeply  broken  up,  and  were  frozen  in 
that  state,  and  it  was  impossible  to  proceed  with  wagons  ; 
a  very  little  snow  enabled  the  inhabitants  slowly  to  move 
along  with  sleighs.     They  were  fleeing  from  a  relentless 


,U  I  1    ! 


M'".l 


'^nWMnMHHIJHH^ 


210 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHlllLrOOL. 
Dealli  ot'un  liiduiii. 


and  cruel  enemy.  The  rear  of  1li(;  lu^itives  was  brought 
up  with  a  twohorHu  nlcigb,  driven  by  u  young  man,  who 
wart  walking  by  Ibe  Bide  of  bis  horses,  [n  the  sleigli  lay 
his  i)rolher,  who,  one  week  belbre,  bud  hud  his  leg  ani- 
puiated  just  l)el()w  the  thigh.  His  condition  was  very 
feeble,  and  to  proceed  rapidly,  rough  as  the  roads  then 
W(!ro,  would  have  been  death  to  him.  There  was  no 
ulternutive,  but  to  continue  the  moderate  pace  at  which 
they  were  moving.  The  driver  was  armed  with  a  rille. 
At  tiiat,  and  distrustfidly  behind  him,  ho  alternately 
looked  ;  for  he  knew  the  foe  was  near  at  hand.  At 
length,  the  war-hoop,  witli  its  accompanying  yells, 
broke  upon  their  cars.  The  disabled  brother  beeougbt 
the  other  to  leave  him  to  his  fate,  and  by  ilight  to  eave 
his  own  life.  "  No,"  he  replied,  *'  if  we  are  to  die, 
we  will  jjcrish  together."  The  party  of  Indians  that 
pursued  them  were  in  full  night  ;  and  one,  far  in  advance 
of  the  others,  called  to  them  to  stop,  making  threatening 
g(>8tures,  and  raising  bin  rille.  With  the  same  slow 
pace,  the  horses  proceeded  ;  the  driver,  coolly  collecting 
himself  tor  the  conflict,  in  which  there  were  such  fearful 
odds  against  him.  The  Indian  sprang  forward,  and  was 
within  a  few  paces  of  the  sleigh,  when  the  yoimg  man, 
suddenly  turning  himself,  quickly  raised  his  rifle,  and 
firing,  fatally  wounded  his  pursuer.  The  savage  plunged 
forward,  fell,  and  his  body  rolled  out  of  the  road.  A 
yell  of  vengeance,  from  the  band  in  the  rear,  came  like 
the  knell  of  death  upon  the  brothers.  At  that  moment, 
a  friendly  party  of  the  Tuscaroras  were  seen  descending 
the  adjacent  mountain  ;  and  the  well-directed  fire  they 
opened  on  the  British  Indians,  obliged  them  precipitately 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


211 


ijcwision. 


to  rel.re.     The   drivor  of  the  nlcigh  wns  Iho  Hon.  Bates 
Cooko   ami  the  i..valicl  wa«   hin  brother,  Lathrop  Cooke, 

pWot  ot  the  boat  that  led  the  van  on  that  oeraBion  ;  the 
l.nat  washro.,.bt|o  the  exaet  point  designated,  and  the 
u^vn,  though  hn-d  upon  hy  the  eendnel  who  gave  the 
alarm,  were  landed  without  lose. 


Pm 


1 1111 

■  ,3  .r'  iM  Ul 


TllK    VILLA (;e    Ot'    LKWisi'u.N. 

*V\ii(I  cnltn  and  pcjKvrtiirfll  111,,  lirjiiul  ray 
:Mi(I  rural  scciiory  and  woodland  spray  ; 
Hu(  eriMliiit,  hcaa.  another  day  had  crou'iiM, 
A  {Thastly  ruin  inark'd  ilm  eliarin  jiroiMid; 
The  LTCcMi  jrraHs  u  uv'd  aionjr  ij.c  vonlrni'  plain, 
Anollicr  day  —  'twas  crusli'd  bpnoalli  ih,.  slain  ; 
'ri)o  siroandet  sparkled  but  llie  eve  liefore, 
Another  day  —  'twas  red  with  rhxtcd  gore." 

The  party  approach  Lewiston.      The  Biimmcr    after 
Ihe  Village  was  burnt,    the  prospect  all   around  was  like 
one   extensive   meadow.     Nearly    all  the   fences    in    the 
liolds  had  been   destroyed  by  our  own  troops,  at  ditierent 
'imcp,   while   encamped   there,  or  passing  through;  but, 
at  (he  tmic  it   was  burnt  by  the  British,  the  destruction 
^vas  general :    nothing   was  left    that   would  burn  ;  and 
Hie  life  of  no  creature  was  spared  that  could  be  destroyed. 
Not   only    the    fields,  but    the    yards    and   streets  were 
covered  with  high,  grass,  and  the  prospect  was  lonely  and 
18 


I 


I 


212 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WIHRLrOOL. 


Tlioiiuis  Hustler. 


melancholy  in  the  extreme  —  not  o  living  creature  was 
to  be  Been.  A  spirit  of  wanton  cruelly  had  caused  the 
ene'^v  to  doslroy  all  ihat  they  could  not  carry  away. 
Li'.  .  mns  of  emnll  yellow  butterflies,  ilitting  about 
abovt  .uc  tall  fjraRS,  marked  the  ppot  where  tlie  carcass 
of  some  creature  lay,  where  it  had  been  shot  down  or 
perished.  What  scene  can  be  more  gloomy,  than  a  coun- 
try depopulated,  and  laid  waste  I'.y  the  ravages  of  war. 

As  you  enter  the  village,  directly  fronting  the  road 
from  the  Falls,  formcrlly  lived  sergeant  Thomas  Hustler, 
one  of  Gen.  Wayne's  old  vctorniis.  He  carried  about, 
for  many  years,  a  ball  in  hie  thigh,  which  he  received 
in  battle.  Ho  kept  a  public-house,  one  of  the  best  of 
those  times;  and  the  grateful  beverage  of  mother  Hust- 
ler's good  collee,  is  yet  remembered  by  many  an  old 
traveller  ;  and  many  a  slcigh-ride,  and  jauat  of  pleasure, 
was  made  by  the  officers  of  Fort  Niagara,  to  the  public- 
house  of  the  old  sergeant. 

A  little  further  in  the  village,  lived  a  respectable  phy- 
sician,  by  the  name  of  Alvord.  When  the  Indians  en- 
tered Lewiston,  carrying  before  them  terror  and  death, 
he  was  preparing  to  fly  from  danger,  but  he  was  too  late  ; 
as  he  was  mounting  his  horse,  they  shot  him  down  and 

scalped  him. 

Lewiston,  was,  in  1805,  named  after  Governor  Lewis, 
of  the  state  of  New  York  ;  it  was  burnt  in  1813,  in  1815 
the  inhabitants  returned  and  it  is  now  a  beautiful  and 
flourishing  village. 


Ill  i 


i  I   -4M 


uro  was 
ised  tho 
y  away. 
ig  about 
I  carcafis 
down  or 
.  a  coim- 
war. 

the  road 

Hustler, 

xl  about, 

received 
e  best  of 
er  Hust- 
ly  an  old 

pleasure, 
10  public- 
able  pby- 
idians  cn- 
nd  death, 

too  late ; 
down  and 

or  Lewis, 
3,  in  1815 
Litiful  and 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


213 


Five  IMile  Mradow 


FIVE    MILE    MEADOW. 

"  ('oine,  (read  with  me  yoiirlmnjrrfiil  (lellg, 
Whcie  beamy  imo  ;4raiide.ur  swells." 

This  beautiful  situation,  celebrated  in  the  early  days  of 

be  country,  as  bein,.  one  of  the  first  cultivated  spots  of 

be  Wilderness,  i«  between  one  arul  two  niilea  below  Lewis- 

ton,  and  live  miles  from  the  Fort.     Hence  its  name.     It 

was   the  residence   and   property    of   Captain  Nathaniel 

Leonard,  formerly  of  the  United  States  army. 

At  the  close  of  the  last  war,  he  retired  to  this  place 
esteemed  as  the  most  attractive  and  pleasant  of  any  on 
the  nver.  Here,  in  the  mindat  of  a  beloved  family,  in  the 
improvement  and  cultivation  of  his  farm,  and  in  the 
confidence  of  his  many  friends  and  neighbors,  he  lived 
happily  for  many  years,  and  truly  verified  the  adage,  that 

"  The  post  of  honor  is  a  private  stailon." 

Youngstown  is  a  village,  also,  lying  by  the  side  of  the 
Niagara  river.  It  is  one  .ile  from  Fort  Niagara,  and 
old  1^  ort  George,  in  Canada,  is  directly  opposite  It 
clerives  its  name  from  John  Young,  formerly  an  American 
merchant  in  Canada.  He  was  the  principal  proprietor. 
Here  is  kept  the  only  ferry  to  Canada,  between  Lewis- 
ton  and  Lake  Ontario.  A  horse  boat  is  maintained.  In 
summer  time,  it  is  very  pleasant  crossing  ;  but,  in  win- 
der, It  the  ice  runs,  there  is  danger. 


nil  ! 


214 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


Fort  i\iii(.'ii»ii. 


'•I 


*l  i^ 


n 


[j^i    a          J 

fl 

■HHi 

1 

Hp^^K^^B 

i 

^Bt              T^T^H 

1 

I^E^i  ^   ^^I^^B 

1 

fl 

■^1  WBHini 

K-N  -        ^IH 

■Ml 

1 

HM 

klal 

FORT    NIAGARA. 

"  IIoarr^R  bnrkr^d  tlio  wolf-,  tlio  v\ilHiro  scrcnnied  afir  -, 
The  aiigol  i)ity  slmiinnl  tlif*  walks  of  w:ir." 

This  fortress  ifi  in  Intilude  43  dog.  14  sec.  N.     In  1G79, 
a  siiinll  spot  wns  enclosed  by  i)nlliisndcs,  by  M.  De  SalU-, 
nn  oftic'.'r   in  the  i^ervicc  of"  Franco.     In    1725,  the  Fort 
wns  built.     In  1751),   it  \\m  taken  by  the  British,  umUr 
^Sir  William  Johnson.     The  cnplure   has  been  nscribed  to 
treachery,  though  there  is  not  known  to  be   any  existing 
authority  to  prove  the   charge.     In  iVM\,  it  was  surren- 
dered \o  the   United    Stak's.     On    the    lOlh    December, 
1813,    it  was  again   taken   by  the   Brilish,  by  surpricc  : 
and  in   March,    1815,  again  surrendered    to  the   Ameri- 
cans.    This  old   fort  is  as   much  noted  for  enormity  and 
crime,  as  for  any  good  ever  derived  from  it  by  the  nation 
in  occupation.     While   in  the  hands  of  the  French,  there 
is  no  doubt  of  its  having  been,  at  times,  used  as  a  prison  ; 
its  close  and   impregnable    dungeons,    where   light    was 
not  admitted,  and  where  remained,  for  many  years  after, 
clear  traces,  and  a  part  of  the  ready  instruments  for  exe- 
cution, or  for  murder.     During  the  American  revolution, 
it  was  the  head-qiiarter  of  all  that   wns  barbarous,  unre- 
lenting, and  cruel.     There,  were  congregated  the   leaders 
and   chiefs  of  those   bands  of  murderers  and  miscreants, 
that  carried  death  and  destruction  into  the  remote  Ame- 
rican settlements.     There,  civilized  Europe  revelled  with 
gnvoire  America  ;  and  ladies  of  education   and  rclinement 
mingled  in   the   society  of  those   whose  only  distinction 


"f; 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


215 


Fori  Ni.ij^uru  —  Mess-ho 


Use. 


waa  to  wield  Ihe  bloody  tomahawk  and  «oalping-knife. 
Ihore  the  sauaws  of  tho  forest  wore  raised  to  eminence, 
and  the  most  unholy  unions  between  them  and  officers 
of  the  h.ghest  rank,  smiled  upon  and  countenanced. 
There  m  their  strong  hold  like  a  ne.t  of  vultures, 
secure  y,  for  seven  years,  they  sallied  forth  and  preyed 
upon  the  distant  settlements  on  the  Mohawk  and  Sus- 
quehanna.  It  was  the  depot  of  their  plunder  ;  there 
they  pl„„,.ea  their  forays,  and  there  they  returned  to 
teast,  until  the  hour  of  action  come  again. 

Fort  Niagara  is  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  stand« 
on  a  point  ot  land  at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  river.     It 
IS  a  traditionary  St ^>ry,    that   the    mess-house,  which  is  a 
very  strong   building    and  the    largest    in    the  fort  was, 
erected  by  sti^tagem.     A  considerable,  though  not  power! 
M  body  of   French    troops,    had  arrived    at    the  point. 
Their  force  was  inferior  to  the  surrounding  Indians,  of 
whom  they  were  under  some  apprehensions.     They  ob- 
tained consent  of  the  Indians  to   build   a   wigwam,  and 
mduced  them,  with  some  of  their  officers,    to  engage  in 
an  extensive  hunt.     The  materials  had  been   made  ready, 
aiid     while  the  Indians,  were    absent,  the  French  built. 
When  the  parties  returned,   at  night,  they  had  advanced 
80  far  with  the  work,  as  to  defend  themselves  against  the 
savages,  in  case  of  an  attack.     In  progress  of  time,  it  be- 
came  a  place  of  considerable  strength.     It  had  its  bastions 
ravines  ;  its  ditch  and  pickets  ;  its  curtains  and  counter- 
scarp ;  its  covered  way,    draw  bridge,   raking  batteries ; 
Its  stone  towers,  laboratory,  and  magazine;  its  mess-houee, 
barracks,  bakery,  and  blacksmith  shnn  r  .r^^  fo.  ^^--^'^--n 
a  chapel   with  a  larg,  ancient  dial  ov^r  the  door,  toTark 


I  :;iili 


III 


i*  ■ 


W' 


«■' 


iJ_t. 


210 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLrOOL. 


Fort  NiajTiira. 


the  hourly  conrBc  of  the  hum.  Ti  wan,  indeed,  n  lilllo  oity 
of  itself,  mid  for  n  lonil  period  iLio  <,rrente.>t  phice  soiilh  of 
Montreal,  or  west  of  Albany.  The  forlilicalions  origin- 
ally covered  a  npnco  of  about  eight  nerce.  At  a  few  rods 
from  the  harrier  gate,  was  the  burying  ground  ;  it  was 
filled  with  memorials  of  the  mutabiUty  of  human  life  ; 
nnd  over  the  portoh  of  the  entrance  was  painted,  in  large 
and  emphatic  chnracters,  the  word  ''Iir.ST." 

It  is  generally  l)elicvcd,  thnt   f-onio  of  the  dii^tnnt  fort- 
resses of  France  were  often  converted  into  slate  i)ri6ons, 
'n.    well    as    for    defenfive    purpo.nes.     There    was    much 
about  Fort  Niagara,  to   eHtnl)li.^h   the    belief  that  it  had 
been   used   as  such.     The    dungeon  of  the    nicps-house, 
called  the  black  hole,  was   a    strong,  dark,,  and  dismal 
l)lacc  ;  and   in  one  corner   of  the    room  was  lixed  the  ap- 
paratus for  strangling  such  unhai)py  wretches  as  fell  im- 
der  the  dif-pleasure   of  the  despotic  rulers   of  those  days. 
The  walls  of  this  dungeon,  from  top  to  bottom,  had  en- 
graved upon  them  French  names,  and  mementos  in  that 
language.     That  the  pri^mers  were  no   common  persons 
was    clear,    as  the    letters    nnd    emblems  were  chiselled 
out  in  good  style.     In  .Tune,   1812,   when   an  attack  was 
momentarily  expected  upon  the  fort  by  a  superior   British 
force,  a  merchant,  resident   at    Fort  Niagarn,  deposited 
some  valualle  articles  in  this  dungeon.     He  took  occa- 
sion, one  n'.ght,  to  visit  it  with  a  light  ;  he  examined  the 
walls,  and  there,   among  hundreds  of  French   names,  he 
Baw   his    own  family  name   engraved,    in    large  letters. 
He  took   no  notes,   and  has  no  recollection  of  the  other 
names  and  memorials  ;    he  intended  to  repeat  his  visit, 
and  to   extend    his   examination,    but   other   avocations 


JA-JNT    TO    THE    WJIFFU.POOI, 


117 


tie  pity 
onth  ot" 

origiii- 
■jw  rods 

it  was 
in  life  ; 
in  large 

int  forl- 
l)ri6on-', 
8    miicli 
t  it  bad 
g-liouse, 
.1  dismal 
the  op- 
fell  nn- 
ise  days, 
bad  en- 
i  in  tbnt 
I  pereoMH 
chiselled 
tack  was 
r   British 
deposited 
)ok  occa- 
nined  the 
lames,  he 
;e  letters, 
the  other 
his  visit, 
wocatioiife 


^Villiaiii  JMorgaii. 


)t  I 


irontrlii 


rniiBod  the  subjVct  to  bo  ncudectcd  ;  and  it  was  not 
to  mind  arrnir)  until  of  late  years,  when  nil  was  cbnnircd. 
In  further  corrobcration  Ilia'  Fort  Niagara  had  witnessed 
scenes  of  guilt  ofid  f.ul  murder,  was  the  fad  that,  in 
]8()5,  it  became  nec(>ssary  to  clear  out  an  old  sink  at- 
tached to  the  me^s-house.  The  bones  of  a  fenuile  were 
found  therein,  evidently,  from  the  place  where  discovered, 
the  victim  of  some  atrocious  crime. 

There  were  many  legendary  stories  about  the  fort.  In 
the  centre  of  the  mese-houtie  was  a  well  of  water,  but, 
it  having  been  poisoned  by  Pome  of  the  former  oecuj)ant8, 
in  latter  years  the  water  wa.s  not  u.;cd  ;  arul  it  was  a 
atory  with  the  soldiers,  imd  belivcved  by  the  Mipersitious, 
that  at  nn'dnight  the  headless  trunk  of  a  French  general 
officer  was  often  seen  pitting  on  the  curb  of  the  old  well, 
where  he  had  been  murdered,  and  his  body  tiirown  in  ; 
and,  according  to  dreamers  and  money-diggers,  large 
treasures,  both  in  gold  and  silver,  have  been"  buried  ia 
many  of  the  nooks  and  corners  of  the  old  fi)rt.  JMany 
applications  used  to  be  made  to  the  America:!  officers  to 
dig  for  money,  and  persons  have  been  known  to  come 
from  a  considerable  distance  for  that  purpose.  Such  re- 
quests were,  of  course,  rcfueed. 

Of  late  years,  matter  of  fact  has  been  more  strange 
than  romance.  William  Morgan  was  kidnapped  from 
the  jail  in  Canandaigua  ;  carried  in  a  post  coach,  undis- 
covered and  by  violence,  for  more  than  one  hundred 
miles,  through  a  populous  country  ;  the  jjerpetrators,  at 
the  time,  unsuspected  ;  was  lodged  in  the  magazine  at 
Fort  Niagara,  for  three  or  four  days  ;  and  then  was  no 
more  seen.  He  was  the  last  hu-maa  victim  offered  up 
-n  these  recesses  of  oppreeeion  and  blood. 


lijjillil 


I 


218 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


Juliii  Ciirroll. 


In  tho  summer  of  1839,  the  United  States  government 
commenced  to  rebuild  the  fortifications  of  Fort  Niagara, 
and  it  ie  stated,  thai  it  will  be  again  put  in  a  rcspcctabltt, 
and  commanding  condition. 


JOHN    CAllUOLL. 


\  ♦' A  i;0(ir  old  solflicr 

The  very  luuiie  iheir  loves  engage." 

In  the  palmy  dnys  of  Fort  Niagara,  when  the  surround- 
ing country  first  conmienced  to  be  settled,  tho  command- 
ing officer  was  in  all  respects  a  petty  sovereign,  not  al- 
ways ruling  with  a  light  or  easy  hand.  The  Lieutenants 
and  under  officers  were  likewise  persons  of  great  conse- 
quence, and  a  very  good  feeling  did  not  always  prevail  be- 
tween the  independent,  urdy,  first  settlers  and  the  mili- 
tary ;  but  now  the  show  and  eclat  of  military  command 
have  vanished,  and  the  faiiaer,  the  mechanic  and  the 
man  of  business  fill  their  allotted  stations,  without  rivalship 
or  annoyance. 

From  many  of  the  former  residents  of  Fort  Niagara 
there  might  be  selected  characters,  a  descriptive  notice  of 
whom,  would  be  interesting  to  general  readers.  Some  for 
their  true  nobility,  some  for  their  meanness,  and  others 
for  peculiarities  especially  their  own.  But  one,  however, 
will  be  here  noticed,  and  his  rank  was  no  higher  than  that 
of  all  afuiy  musician. 


N 


.TArXT    TO    TITR    WHIR T. POOL. 


210 


Jnliii  Ciirroll. 


Wholhnr  he  was  brother  or  eouRin  to  Curroll,  the  fti- 
moiw  Irish  harper,  is  not  known  ;  but,  lik<.  him,  he  was 
of  nil  fliin<rK  dcvofed  lo  miif^ic  and  whiskey.  One  morn- 
ing', Carroll  phiycd  the  troops,  on  pnrnde,  n  vory  Hprii,di{ly 
tunc  ;  the  comnmndinnr  ofliccr  threw  up  his  window,  mid 
called  out  "  Carroll,  wli,-it  tunc  i^  that  ?" 

"  What  the  devil  ail.s  you,  sir  ?"  replied  Carroll. 

"Yon  old  rascal!  What  tune  is  that?"  the  onicer 
again  voeiffrnted. 

"  Wluit  the  devil  alls  yon,  sir  ?"  was  (he  response. 

**  Come  up  here,  I  will  learn  you  to  an,^wcr  nic  in  that 
way,"  was  next. 

Carroll  lm.stcnfd  to  (ho  room,  but  was  very  careful  to 
pay,  a,^  s,)on  ai  ho  oi)cned  the  door,  *'  Sir,  the  name  of 
the  rhiine  is  what  the  devil  ails  you." 

"  Gj  about  your  buMn.-.sH,"  finid  the  Major. 

One  day,  when  Carroll  hnd  been  paying  his  devotions 
too  freely  to  B.icchus,  in  the  use  of  his  favorite  beverage, 
and  staggering  on  thc^  parade,  made  a  ludicrous  figure  in 
playing  the  retrcit.  The  cominindant  gave  him  q  per- 
sonal rei)rimand,  and  threatened  him  with  confinement. 
Carroll  was  not  then  in  so  beggarly  a  state  as  to  bear 
censure  patiently,  but  felt  as  great  as  his  oflicer,  and  m 
rich  as  a  lord.  Ho  first  retaliated  in  words,  but  shortly 
became  so  furious  and  ungovernable,  as  to  make  it  ne- 
cessery  to  confine  him  ;  and,  what  was  very  unusual,  he 
was  conveyed  and  locked  up  in  the  black  hole.  h\  the 
middle  of  the  night,  the  most  dismal  sounds  were  heard 
from  the  place  of  his  confinement ;  and  orders  were 
given  that  he  should  be  looked  to.  He  was  found  in  a 
piteouB  condition  ;  declaring  that  he  had  been  visited  by 


'^^imm^mmk' 


220 


JAUNT    TO    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 


Jaunt  concluded. 


all  the  hobgoblins,  and   all  the  devils  in  existence  ;  that 
they  came  to  him   immediately  at  his  entrance,  and  had 
haunted   him  all  the  while   he    had  been  confined.     He 
begged  that  he  might   be   allowed  a  light,  his  fife,  and 
pen,  ink  and  paper ;  that,  by  employing  himself  in  some 
vay,  he  might  be  able  to  drive  awny  the  horrid  thoughts 
and    phantoms    that    assailed    him.       His   request    was 
granted.     In  the  morning,    when    he  was   released,  and 
met  the  other  musicians,  ho  produced  them  a  tune  which 
he  said  he   had  composed  during  the  latter  hours  of  hia 
}  confinement.     He  called  it  ''  Carroll's  thoughts  on  eter- 
nity." Besides  this,  he  composed  several  marches,  waltzpB, 
and  other  pieces  ;  many  of  which  possessed  considerable 
merit.     He  died  in  1812,  of  the  epidemic  which  at  that 
time  prevailed  in  the  army. 


TAl 


The 
patchc 
lakes 
river, 
miles, 
Ameri 
and  tl 
tbree  i 


JAUNT  TO  CANADA, 


IN   THE    VICINITY   OF   THE   FALLS,'    VISIT   TO 


TABLE  ROCK,  BROCK's  MONUMENT  &c. 


WITH    NOTICES   OF 


QUEENSTON,  FORT  GEORGE,  &c. 


.:::!ll 


CANADA. 

'♦  Prinrcs  and  lords  may  flourish  or  may  fade  ; 
A  breath  can  make  them,  as  a  hreatli  has  made 
But  a  bold  peasantry,  their  country's  pride, 
When  once  destroyed,  can  never  be  supplied 


»> 


That  portion  of  Upper  Canada,  designated  in  the  dee- 
patches  of  Gon.  Brown,  as  the  peninsula  lying  between 
lakes  Ontario  and  Erie,  bounded  east  on  the  Niagara 
river,  and  extending  west  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles,  ia  one  of  the  finest  tracts  of  country  in  North 
America.  The  soil  is  fertile,  the  climate  salubrious, 
and  the  scenery  beautiful.  Besides  being  bounded  on 
tbree  sides  with  navigable   water  communication,  there 


I 


"''    Willi 


I 


.iMilart;iiiiiij%i.». 


i;v 


222 


JAT^NT    TO    CANADA. 


Impressions  of  iravellorri. 


also  passes  over  it  many  line  streams  and  rivulets.  The 
state  of  improvemt!nt  is  very  respectable:  the  whole  tract 
is  only  eciualled  by  Western  New- York,  whote  inhabit- 
ants, in  enterprise,  are  yet  considerably  in  advance  of 
those  of  Canada.  The  settlementp,  on  the  western  side 
of  the  Niagara  river,  tooii  place  during  and  immediately 
after  the  war  of  the  revolution.  On  the  American  side, 
except  at  three  points,  it  commenced  much  later,  and 
large  tracts  of  the  native  forests  are  still  remaining.  The 
first  settlers  to  this  part  of  Canada,  were  from  the  nor- 
then  and  western  borders  of  Pennsylvania,  and  New- York; 
Butler's  rangers;  the  followers  of  Sir  J.  Johnson,  and 
others,  who  preferred  the  paternal  government  of  Great 
Biitain  to  the  republican  institutions  of  the  people.  The 
proximity  of  the  two  countries,  the  same  language,  and 
similarity  of  pursuits,  have  so  assimilated  the  inhabitants, 
that  a  stranger,  not  knowing  the  political  division,  in 
passing  from  one  to  the  other,  would  still  think  himeelf 
fimong  the  same  people. 

It  was  not  so  with  Captain  Basil  Hall,  when  he  landed 
in  Canada  from  the  United  States,  and  trod  again  on 
British  ground;  his  chest  expanded  —  he  breathed  more 
fi-ee  —  the  air  seemed  purer;  and,  seeing  a  British  soldier 
near  Brock's  monument,  he  hastened  towards  him,  and 
embraced  him  as  a  brother.  It  is  the  reverse  with  an 
American.  When  he  goes  to  Canada,  he  feels  himself 
from  home,  and  experiences  a  degree  of  constraint  to 
which  he  has  not  been  familiar.  With  feelings  no  less 
buoyant  than  those  of  Capt.  Hall,  when  ready,  he  returns 
to  his  own  shore  rejoicing,  and  grateful  for  the  freedom 
which  hio  forefathers  won.     Still,  Amcricane  always  leave 


t8.     The 

lole  tract 

inhnhit- 

vancc   of 

tern  side 

nodiately 

can  Bide, 

titer,  and 

ig.     The 

the  nor- 

cw-York; 

iHon,  and 

of  Great 

)le.     The 

' 

lagc,  and 

jabitanls, 

vision,  in 

k  hinieelf 

he  landed 

again  on 

n 

hed  more 

leh  eoldier 

him,  and 

3  with  an 

^ 

8  himself 

3traint    to 

^8  no  Ices 

le  returns 

3  freedom        1 

'T¥ 


m 


tvays  leave 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


223 


The  Ferry. 


Canada  pleased  with  the  country,  and  gratified  with  the 
civility  with  which  they  are  usually  treated.  The  eensa- 
tions  that  animate  both  Americans  and  Britons  in  passing 
into  a  foreign  land,  though  apparently  dissimilar,  yet  arise 
from  the  same  source— love  of  country —  of  home,  and 
veneration  for  long  cherished  institutions. 


o 


2 

** 

3 


.■3 


be 

.2 


VIEW    FROM    THE    STAIRS. 

'*  And  hark !  the  bugrle's  mellow  strain, 

From  hill  to  hill  Is  ringing  ; 
And  every  zephyr,  o'er  the  plain, 

The  joyful  note  is  bringing. 
The  eagle  from  his  eyry  darts, 

To  hear  the  flying  numbers  • 
And  echo,  in  her  grotto,  starts. 

Awakened  from  her  slumbers." 

The  party  of  travellers  are  at  the  top  of  the  bank,  and 
commence  the  descent  of  the  long  flight  of  stairs,  in  order 
to  cross  the  river.  They  stop  at  the  foot  of  the  first  flight, 
and  enjoy  a  fine  view  of  the  Falls,  and  the  river  below. 
The  view  below  extends  about  two  miles,  where  the  wa- 
ters again  break  into  billows,  and  white  with  foam,  seem 
to  sink  into  some  subterraneous  cavern,  as  they  disappear 
behind  the  projecting  cliffs. 

Inquiry  is  often  made,  "  How  was  the  bank  descended 
before  the  stairs  were  built?" 

The  descent  was  made  by  means  of  the  Indian  ladder, 
half  a  mile  further  down  the  river,  and  hero  k»,  oiir,„,„a. 

19 


Hi 

I'lliliji 


i^      Li 

' '  !!l 


:i 


i'M! 


'  "l,i'  1111 

'n 


'I  .1  'i  I 
,,i  I  III.'"'' 


I'  I ' 


li    iiiii) 


"If  11 1 


224 


JAUNT   TO    CANADA. 


Perilous  descent  of  the  ladder. 


to  the  rocks  and  sLirube.  The  next  improvement  was  n 
ladder,  eighty  feet  long,  placed  nearly  perpendicularly 
against  the  bank.  Last  war,  it  was  thrown  down.  The 
same  year  that  peace  was  proclaimed,  and  before  another 
ladder  was  erected,  a  party  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  from 
Boston,  visited  the  Falls;  and,  incredible  as  it  may  appear, 
descended  and  ascended  the  bank,  at  this  place,  by  holding 

fast  to  the  rocks. 

One  of  the  ladies  observes— "  Tbeir  curiosity  must 
have  been  very  intense,  to  induce  them  to  expose  them- 
selves to  60  much  danger." 

A  traveller  replies  —  *'  Even  the  ladder  was  difficult  and 
dangerous  to  many  who  descended  it  for  the   first  time. 
A  gentleman  once  described  to  me  his  passing  down  the 
ladder  in  the  following  terms:    '  When  I  was  a  youth,  I 
visited  the  Falls,  in  company  with  a  lad  of  about  my  own 
age.     It  was  in  1808.     We  came  to  the  top  of  the  bank, 
and  after  viewing  the  great  scene  from  above,  we  recon- 
noitered   the  prospect  below,  and    the  means  of  getting 
down.     I  became  very  anxious  to  descend,  but  the  view 
was  much  more  wild  and  terrific  than  at  present;   and  I 
had  some  slight  apprehensions.     I  desired  my  companion 
to  accompany  me,  but  he  declined.     I  had  not  been  used 
to  climbing  or  descending  ladders,  and  such  wild  scenes 
were  not  familiar.     I  concluded  to  venture,  and  commen- 
ced to  go   down.     I  soon   discovered  that  every  step  I 
descended,  I  had  to  hold  on  still  more  firmly;  but  down  I 
got.     I  then  threaded  my  way  along  the  rough  and  slip- 
pery  path  to  the  water's  edge,  and  thence  to  the  mist  and 
falling  water.     It  was  a  chaotic  scene  to  me;  the  water 
poured  from  above:  the  mistB  rushed  over,  and  the  Fa'ls 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


225 


Perilous  descent  of  the  ladder. 


roared.  I  felt  as  if  buried  alone  in  the  deep  and  rocky 
chasm.  I  looked  up,  and  saw  my  companion,  no  larger, 
apparently,  than  an  infant.  Like  the  first  travellers  who 
visited  the  Falls,  and  reported  them  to  be  six  hundred 
feet  high,  to  me  the  bank  and  Falls  appeared  no  less;  and 
their  actual  height  I  did  not  then  know.  I  glanced  at 
the  long  ladder  standing  against  the  rocks,  which  I  had 
again  to  ascend,  and  became  oppressed  with  fear;  and 
thought,  if  once  eafe  on  the  upper  bank,  that  I  would  not 
soon  again  be  caught  in  thai  horrid  place.  At  length  I 
started  up;  I  reached  the  ladder,  and  began  the  ascent.  I 
looked  above;  the  height  appeared  almost  interminable.  I 
cast  my  eyes  below;  my  head  became  dizzy.  I  found  it 
my  only  security  to  direct  my  eyes  in  front,  against  the 
black  and  projecting  rocks.  My  feet  touched  the  ladder 
with  weak  and  unsteady  steps,  and  my  hazids  clinched  it 
with  my  utmost  strength.  When  I  successively  let  go  to 
take  another  hold,  it  seemed  as  if  all  power  was  gone,  or 
as  if  a  heavy  load  was  attached  to  my  arms  to  keep  them 
from  rising.  On  1  went,  my  eyes  still  directed  against 
the  rocks,  and  exerting  my  strength  almost  to  exhaustion. 
I  reasoned  with  myself,  and  endeavored  to  subdue  the 
apprehensions  that  overcame  me;  I  thought  of  the  folly  of 
my  fears,  and  that  it  required  but  a  slight  exertion  to  hold 
to  the  ladder;  and  tliat  there  was  no  necessity  of  grasping 
it  with  such  death-like  energy.  If  it  was  twenty  times 
as  high,  I  thought  I  could  ascend  it.  At  once  I  attempted 
to  be  less  exercised,  and  took  hold  of  the  rungs  carelessly; 
but,  if  I  had  not  instantly  grasped  them  with  all  my  might, 
I  shoidd  have  fallen  to  the  bottom;  and  it  required  all  the 
strength  I  was  master  of,  to  recover  my  position.     I  found 


ii     )'i 


"hill 


'!  I 


•  « 

it 


226 


JAUXT    TO    CANADA. 


Hji 


Convenience  for  travellers. 


that  I  had  vainly  flattered  myself;  and  with  more  and 
more  difficulty  did  I  rise,  and  more  firmly  was  I  obliged  to 
hold.  Though  requiring  but  about  five  minutes  to  make 
the  ascent,  it  appeared  to  be  the  labor  of  half  an  hour,  at 
least.  At  length  I  reached  the  summit,  and  wilh  joy  I 
once  more  found  myself  on  level  land.  I  advanced  to- 
wards my  companion,  who  was  seated  on  a  rock  at  a 
short  distance,  but,  to  my  surprise,  my  legs  refused  their 
office,  my  knees  bent  under  me,  and  I  barely  succeeded  in 
walking.  I  rallied  myself,  and  determined  to  walk  erect, 
but  in  spite  of  every  eflxirt  to  the  contrary,  my  knees 
continued  for  some  minutes  to  give  way;  and  I  was  con- 
vinced that  I  had  been  greatly  frightened.  I  afterwards 
frequently  descended,  but  never  again  with  such  emotions.' 
It  was  certainly  a  hazardous  way  of  descending  the  bank, 
and  particHlnrly  for  ladies  and  pereon.  of  weak  nerves. 
The  public  are  much  indebted  for  the  present  conveniences 
afforded  to  visiters,  and  for  nothing  more 'than  the  differ- 
ent staircases." 

The  guide  observes—  "It  is  well  thought  of  by  some, 
and  they  are  willing  to  pay  for  the  many  accommodations 
they  receive:  others  think  that  these  conveniences  should 
be  erected  and  maintained  gratuitously,  and  complain  of 
being  taxed  at  every  turn." 

Traveller. —  <'It  is  very  unreasonable  to  expect  that 
people  should  go  to  great  expense  in  providing  these  ac- 
commodations,  and  also  give  their  personal  attention  with- 
out reward." 

Guide.— "  There  is  another  class,  that  object  to  these 
conveniences,  they  are  hunting  for  adventure  and  hair- 
breadth  eecapesj  about  the   Falls ;   they  wish,   on  their 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


227 


Catliii'8  Cuve. 


return,  to  relate  the  imminent  danger  they  were  in,  or 
the  daring  enterprises  they  performed." 

Traveller.- "As  lo  that  matter,  there  is  room  enough 
yet.  Let  thom  go  down  the  bank,  where  there  are  no 
Ptairs,  if  they  disapprove  of  them:  let  them  wander  under 
the  perpendicular  rocks;  pass  lo  Ingraham's  cave;  take  an 
excursion  in  a  boat,  and  pass  from  Bath  island  to  the  isl- 
andiUying  just  above  the  Falls;  swim  the  Niagara  river; 
or,  in  a  boat,  pass  to  the  rapids  below.  There  is  yet  room 
for  the  wildrst  adventure  about  Niagara;  but  after  all,  the 
greater  portion  of  mankind  are  fond  of  eecing  exciting 
bcenes  from  safe  po/sitions.  And  the  various  facilities  of 
communication,  and  other  conveniences  for  strangers,  are 
worth  all  that  is  charged  for  them." 

The  stairs  that  descend  the  bank  were  built  by  and 
belong  to  Judge  Porter.  The  ferry  also,  from  the  Ameri- 
can  side,  belongs  to  him:  from  the  British  side  it  belongs 
to  Samuel  Street,  Eyq.  The  first  boat  put  on  the  river 
at  this  place,  was  by  Gen.  Parkhurst  Whitney.  He  built 
the  first  stairs  down  the  bank,  and  established  the  first 
ferry. 

Having  arrived  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  the  very  fine 
view  of  the  Falls,  which  is  there  presented,  is  noticed  by 
the  party.  Thence  they  wind  around  the  sloping  bank  to 
the  landing  place;  the  boat  is  ready  to  receive  them;  and 
they  are  soon  floating  over  the  convulsed  and  agitated 
waters.  Hoods,  India  rubbers,  oil  cloths  and  umbrellas, 
are  brought  into  requisition,  to  shield  them  from  the  de- 
scending mist  that  gushes  away  from  the  falling  stream. 

Catlin's  Cave,  is  about  a  mile  below,  on  the  American 
eide.     It  can  onjj^  be  \it:iicd  by  going  along  the  bottom 
19* 


'1  ''  Ml 
Hi' 


,1      ,1! 

ti  I   Ml 


illi    'i 


1  ! 


i'  ' 


''  lini  li 


1  i"i: 


n  111 

'r'':;iii 


228 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


Crossing  the  river. 


of  the  perpendicuhir  bank,  or  near  the  water's  edge.— 
Travellers  usually  employ  the  ferryman  to  take  then,  in 
a  boat.  The  cave  is  about  twenty  feet  in  circumference, 
or  about  the  size  of  a  baker's  largo  oven:  and  the  entrance 
just  big  enough  to  admit  the  body  of  a  man.  When  dis- 
covered, it  was  almost  filled  with  beautiful  Citalactitcs. 
but  they  have  been  all  removed.  Around  the  cave  arc 
large  qunntities  of  petrified  moB3,  and  springs  of  water 
gush  out  above  and  at  the  sides  of  the  cave,  in  a  peculiar 
and  beautiful  manner. 

Bender's  Cave,  is  on  the  Canada  side,  a  little  further 
down  than  Catlin'e.  It  is  about  twenty  fort  from  side  to 
side,  is  high  enough  for  persons  to  stand  in,  and  has  a 
floor  of  pure  white  sand.  To  persons  of  leisure,  both 
caves  are  worth  visiting,  and  afford  a  pleasant  excursion. 
Before  the  bridge  to  Iris  island  was  built,  parties  used 
to  visit  the  lower  end  with  boats,  by  passing  up  between 
the  two  sheets  of  water;  some  arc  still  fond  of  making  the 
trip,  as  they  advance  very  close  to  the  Falls,  which  is  to 
many  very  iixtt^/esting. 

Usually,  visitors  are  greatly  delighted  with  the  view  of 
the  Falls  which  is  obtained  in  crossing  the  ferry.  To- 
wards the  centre  of  the  river,  the  mist  is  dispelled,  and 
the  prospect  of  the  immense  body  of  falling  water  is  un- 
obscured  by  any  intervening  object.  The  whole  sublimity 
of  the  scene  is  displayed.  Besides  this,  the  eddies  are 
strong,  the  waters  dance  round  the  boat,  the  boat  itselt 
rocks  and  bounds  along,  and  some  of  the  obtrusive  waves 
dash  over  upon  the  passengers.  The  ladies  become  alarm- 
ed; but  they  hardly  have  time  to  inquire  if  there  is  not 
danger,  before  the  dashing  of  the  waves  has  ceased,  the 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


229 


edge. — 
lien,  in 
ference, 
ntrance 
ben  dis- 
lactilcs. 
;ave  arc 
)f  water 
peculiar 

further 
I  side  to 
id  has  a 
re,  both 
icureion. 
lies  used 
between 
king  the 
ich  is  to 

3  view  of 
ry.  To- 
lied,  and 
er  is  un- 
iublimity 
ddies  are 
oat  itself 
ve  waves 
ae  alarm- 
re  is  not 
ased,  the 


VilhiKe  of  Clifton. 


boat  glides  smoothly  o-  er  subdued  and  dead  swells,  and 
soon  reaches  the  Canada  shore. 

The  pasHongers  step  forth  upon  the  rocks  that  line  the 
shore.  The  mighty  cataract  is  pouring  its  ocean  of  wa- 
ters before  them,  but,  if  they  are  Americans,  it  has  ceased 
to  be  the  only  curiosity,  and  their  attention  is  called  to 
persons  and  characters.  Sentries,  in  the  red  and  showy 
uniform  of  England,  arc  paceiiig  the  rocky  shore;  or  a 
portion  of  the  Brifi«h  army  may  be  observed  performing 
their  evolutions  nt  the  top  of  the  bank.  The  notes  of  the 
bugle  are  often  hoard  in  the  distance,  and  sometimes  the 
martial  strains  of  the  full  regimental  band  breaks  upon 
the  traveller's  ears. 


VILLAGE    OF    CLIFTON. 

This  village  comprises  a  fine  plat  on  the  first  and  second 
rise  of  land  above  the  ferry.  The  road  leading  from  the 
river  to  Drummondville  passes  through  the  centre.  It 
lies  directly  in  front  of  the  Falls,  and  commands  a  full 
view  of  the  river,  of  the  great  cataract,  and  of  the  Ameri- 
can shore. 

Clifton  House,  stands  just  at  the  head  of  the  hill  from 
the  ferry. 

The  party  proceed  along  the  bank  of  the  river  until 
coming  near  a  house  containing  a  large  Camera  Obscura, 
which  beautifully  reflects  the  Falls.  To  many,  it  is  a 
new  and  pleasing  sight,  and  is  always  wo;  th  a  visit. 


iiiii 


Mill! 


230 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


Tuldc  llock. 


Procecdirijcr  further,  Mr.  Barnet's  museum  attracts  their 
attention,  and  <hey  cnt^r  tc.  eve  his  cu^io^itic8.  No  por- 
eou  who  visits  this  niurtuem  will  rcyict  the  lime  or  the 
trifling  cxpL'n.5e;  ami  all  that  have  viiiileJ  it,  have  depar- 
ted plcan.  '  and  gratified.  It  is  one  of  the  heat  coileoMonH 
of  birds  and  animals  any  where  to  be  met  with.  They 
are  preserved  in  a  very  neat  style.  The  animals  and 
birds  are  generally  those  of  the  country,  and  look  almost 
as  if  living.  The  birds  eeum  not  to  have  lost  a  Lather, 
and  appear  as  if  ready  to  raise  their  wings  to  fly.  Mr. 
Barnct  makes  his  own  preparnlions;  and,  for  the  beautiful 
manner  he  performs  his  work,  he  is  unexcelled.  He  pre- 
pares for  viditorn,  animals  or  biids  to  order,  or  will  sell  to 
them  out  of  his  stoek  on  hand.  Besides  birds  and  ani- 
mals, there  are  many  other  curiosities  in  this  museum, 
worth  seeing.  The  j)arty,  after  8])ending  half  an  hour 
very  pleasantly,  bend  their  course  towards  Tabb  Rock. 


TABLE    ROCK. 


*'  Aiul  still  with  soiiiit!  like  liooming  peal 
From  disitiiit  tliuiulcr  jjivcii, 
Forllt,  forili  from  out  the  dark  uhysa, 
The  ruahiMsj  siicum  Is  driven." 


Although  much  of  this  rock  has  fallen  from  time  to 
time,  within  the  memory  of  many  yet  living,  still  it  pro- 
jects some  forty  or  fifty  feet  over  the  bank.  Through  a 
consitr^rable  portion  of  it  juus  a  wide  and  deep  fibsure, 
evidencing  that  it  will  nut  be  many  years  before  the  outer 


JAUNT   TO    CANADA. 


231 


TusBing  under  ihe  lihcct  of  wuter. 


portion  will  be  launched  below.  Some  years  since,  the 
person  who  kept  the  winding  Btoirs,  at  Table  Rock,  gave 
notice  that  on  a  cermin  day,  (it  was  on  the  occasion  of 
one  of  the  vessels  going  cynr  the  Falls,)  he  should  put  a 
number  of  kegs  of  powder  in  the  fissure  of  the  rock,  and 
blow  it  off.  It  wns  expected  that  it  would  make  a  tre- 
mendous crneh.  But  the  gentleman  who  owned  the  prin- 
cipal interest  in  the  privilege,  would  not  allow  it  to  be 
-'one,  as  it  would  have  put  an  end  to  the  charm  of  the 
place  — the  visit  under  the  sheet  of  water. 

Traveller.—  "  If  the  rock  is  safe,  the  gentleman  did 
right  in  preserving  it;  but  if  it  hangs  jeopardising  the  life 
of  human  beings,  it  ought  to  be  blown  off." 

Guide—  "  We  are  now  on  it,  and  you  must  judge  for 
yourselves." 

Traveller.— '<  It  mny  stand  for  half  a  century,  or  may 
give  way  while  we  are  tolking  about  it.  It  has  no  doubt, 
too  dangerous  a  look  for  a  man  to  think  of  building  a 
residence  on,  yet,  for  a  Niagara  Falls  enthusiast,  and  I 
have  both  seen  and  heard  of  such,  it  is  just  the  spot." 


li 


'll! 


','H! 


PASSING    UNDER   THE    SHEET   OP   WATER. 

"  The  gliuering  stream,  the  Bprny  with  rainbow  round, 
The  dizzy  height,  the  roar,  the  gulf  profound." 

Near  to  Table  Rock,  there  is  an  establishment  at  which 
uicH^vu,  «.v  proviucu,  anu  gaiaua  uirnisDea  lo  conduct  trdv- 


232 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


11 


The  descent. 


ellerB  under  the  rock,  and  thence  under  the  ebeet  of  water. 
Several  of  the  party  conclude  to  make  the  excursion,  and 
enter  the  house.     The  ladies  start  bnck  in  astoniehment 
and  dismay,  as  they  see  rising   up,    apparently   from  a 
lower  apartment,  half  a  dozen  villainous  looking  charac- 
ters, arrayed  in  canvass  jackets,  and  in  India  rubber  and 
oil  cloth  cloaks;  some  with  caps  flapped  over  their  necks, 
and  others  with  tarpaulin  t-louchcd  hats,  a  good  represen- 
tation of  Italian  banditti;  but,  as  they  seemed  to  be  satur- 
ated with  wet,  and  the  water  ran  in  streams  from  them, 
it  was  no  great  elrctch  of  fancy  to  imagine  them  demons 
of  the   Falls.      The  party  come   forward,  laughing  and 
chatting  gaily;   and  the  sweet  treble  of  women's  voice, 
mixed  with  the  louder  yet  well  modulated   tones  of  the 
men,  would,  at  least,  have  passed  them  olT  as  a  gay  set 
of  masqueraders.     An  explanation  soon  takes  place;  they 
prove  to  be  a  company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  just  retur- 
ned from  under  the  sheet  of  water. 

Similar  dresses  were  soon  provided  for  the  new  comers. 
The  ladies  remonstrated  about  the  cow-hide  shoes,  much 
too  big,  and  other  grotesque  looking  articles  with  which 
Ihey  had  to  array  themselves,  and  laughed  heartily  at 
each  others  odd  and  frightful  appearance. 

They  descend  the  stairs,  make  their  way  along  the 
rocky  path,  and  soon  enter  under  the  overhanging  arch 
of  Table  Rock.  In  front  is  the  sheet  of  water:  below, 
at  the  left,  is  the  river,  white  with  foam,  and  on  the 
shore  large  bodies  of  rock  that  have  tumbled  from  the 
arch  under  which  the  travellers  are  winding  their  way  ; 
and  above,  is  the  mighty  mass  divided  into  thousands  of 
fissures,  and  rocks  hanging  equipoised,   ready  every  mo- 


1  i  i 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


233 


Termination  Rock. 


if  water, 
ion,  and 
liebment 
from  a 
cliarae- 
)ber  and 
r  necke, 
•epreeen- 
be  eatur- 
m  them, 
demons 
[inig  and 
'b  voice, 
38  of  the 
,  gay  set 
ice;  they 
tst  retur- 

,'  comers. 
les,  much 
th  which 
eartily  at 

ilong  the 
;ing  arch 
r:  below, 
d  on  the 
from  the 
leir  way  ; 
jueands  of 
3verv  mo- 


ment to  fall  and  crush  those  whose  temerity  leads  them 
through  that  dangerous  pass.  But,  as  no  accidents  have 
happened,  visitors  may  look  danger  in  the  face,  and  move 
cheerily  along,  not  troubling  themselves  with  any  dis- 
turbing  tl'jughts.  They  soon  arrive  in  the  mist,  the 
rocks  become  slippery,  but  (he  guide  directs  and  lends 
his  assistance,  aesuring  them  that  there  is  uo  danger. 

"  Slill  groping  through  the  dark  recess,  we  find 
New  81    ncs  of  wonder,  to  ummc  the  mind." 

The  water,  driven  by  the  force  of  the  wind,  pours  over 
them,  and  in  spite  of  India  rubber  and  water-proof 
guards,  very  few  escape  being  drenched  to  the  skin.  At 
length,  it  is  announced  that  they  have  arrived  at  Ter- 
mination Rock.  There  they  stand  and  gaze  upon  the 
wonders  of  the  place,  until  the  eye  becomes  weary  with 
seeing  the  white  and  mingling  waters,  and  the  ear  tired 
of  the  deafening  sound.  Some  just  look  in,  and  cast  a 
fearful  glance  around,  and  then  hurry  away ;  others  re- 
main for  half  an  hour,  or  more,  seemingly  enjoying  the 
terrific  scene.  Visitors  usually  go  only  to  Termination 
Rock,  but  it  is  possible  to  advance  35  feet  further. 

It  is  considered  one  of  the  adventures  which  Niagara 
60  prolificly  affords,  to  go  under  Table  Rock.  And  the 
proprietor  furnishes  a  certificate,  at  a  certain  price,  to  all 
those  who  perform  the  exploit.  A  German  prince,  who 
vieited  the  Falls,  a  few  years  ago,  offered  to  pay  two 
dollars,  that  sum  being  double  the  amount  demanded, 
for  a  paper  certifying  that  he  had  gone  further  under  the 
Falls  than  any  other  man.     The  keeper  would  not  take 

♦  no  KriKo      Kll+    naTto     \r\{r\%    ■♦U^     «_J;  — __-. i.;ii__^_ 


■msmm:r 


234 


JAUNT   TO   CANADA. 


(ioing  over  the  Fall!4. 


Having  enfely  returned  to  the  top  of  the  rock,  and  re- 
sumed their  colloquy  with  the  guide,  one  o(  the  party 
observes  — 

"  It  would  be  a  dreadful  sight  to  behold  a  boat,  in 
which  there  were  human  beings,  coming  down  the  rapids 
and  going  over  the  Falls." 

Guide. —  "That  sight  has  never  been  witnessed;  in 
all  the  cases  that  have  occured,  the  boats  have  been 
capsized,  and  the  persons  thrown  out  in  the  rapids,  and 
were  lost  to  the  eyes  of  those  who  stood  on  the  shore 
before  they  reached  the  Falls  ;  and  it  is  generally  sup- 
posed that  they  perish  before  they  pass  over. 


li'i  J 


GOING    OVER   THE    PALLS. 

•'  What  thoughts  are  theirs,  who,  in  the  wat'ry  deep, 
For  a  short  space  cling  to  some  hope  forlorn, 
And  tug  for  one  more  moment  of  sweet  life — 
For  precious  and  desired  life?" 

In  1810,  a  large  boat,  loaded  with  upwards  of  200 
barrels  of  salt,  was  sailing  up  the  river,  from  Schlosser. 
The  wind  was  very  high,  and  the  boat  being  too  deeply 
laden,  the  swell  rolled  over  her,  and  she  sunk.  The 
masL  at  first  projected  out  of  the  water,  to  which  two  of 
the  crew  secured  themselves  ;  another,  there  being  but 
three  on  board,  seized  the  steering  oar,  on  which  he 
ffoated.     The  place  where  the    boat   sunk,    was  at  the 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


235 


(ioiii;,'  over  llic  Fjills. 


upper  end  of  Navy  Islnnd.     It   wa^  driven  along  by  the 
force  of  the  current,  the  boat  touching  the  bottom,  and, 
na  it  passed  down,  sinking  deeper  and  deeper.     At  length, 
the  swells  rolled  over  those  who  were  on  the  mast,  and 
at  times  they  would  sink  from  sight,  and  then,  where  the 
river  was  not  so  deep,  would  again  rise.     Ojie  let  go  his 
hold,  and  made  for  the  shore,  but  soon  sunk;  the  other 
continued  his  hold  upon    the    mast,  until    lost    sight    of. 
Both  of  them,  without  doubt,  went  over  the  Falls.     The 
man  who  got  the  steering  oar,  succeeded  in  sealing  himself 
on   it,  and  was   drifting  down  the  river.     A  gentleman, 
about  a  mile  from  Chippewa,  observing  him,  ran  his  horse 
to  that  village,  drove  some  men  in  a  boat,  and  jumping 
in  himself,  put  out,  lifted  the  exhausted  and  helpless  man 
with  difficulty  from  the  oar,  and  brought  him  safe  to  the 
shore.     In  their  humane  exertions   to  save  the   life  of  a 
fellow  being,  they  got  so  far  in  the  current,  as  to  come 
very  near  going  over  the  Falls  them  el /es.     The  spirited 
gentleman  who  was  the  means  of  eaving  this  man,  was 
the  talented  and  well  known  Doct.  John  J.  LafTerty,  of 
Upi)or  Canada. 

The  occurrence  of  persona  passing  over  the  Falls  is  so 
frequent,  that  but  a  small  part  of  the  cases  can  be  enu- 
merated.    It  being  fo  very  dangerous  for  a   long  distance 
above,  it  might  be  8up|)osed   that  people  would  be  more 
careful;  but  they  seem  to  be  heedless  of  the  risk,  and  rush 
with  imprudence  upon  the  impetuous  and  deceiving  wa- 
ters.    In  1820,  two  men  were  so  neglectful  of  themselves, 
as  to  fall  asleep  in  a  boat,  at  the  mouth  of  Chippewa  creek, 
the  bow  of  which  lay  on  shore,  but  was  not  fastened.     It 
was  carried  out  in  the  stream,  and  was  seen  to  capsize  in 


(Hi: 


,|.i: 


'l*!liii^ 

'^;:i!^ 


.  .11 


! ii 


I  It 


fSI 


1.1 


236 


JAUNT   TO    CANADA 


Caiiiil  lio.it  iiiciilon;. 


Ihe  rapids,  when  the  mon  were  ihrowii  out.  For  the 
space  of  thirty  years,  hardly  a  year  has  parsed  without 
hearintr  of  one  or  more  persons  going  over  the  Falls. 


\ 


m 


CANAL    BOAT    INCIDENT. 

"  Destruction  moves  on  yon  dorfccndins  wave, 
A  sccaiiii;^  iiuracleuloiie  can  suve." 

Besides  the  many  fatal  accidents  that  have  happened, 
there  have  been  a  great  many  narrow  escapes.  Only  one, 
however,  will  be  mentioned  here. 

A  canal  boat,    in  Js32,  was  going  up  the  river,  from 
Chippewa.     When  two  miles  up,  the  lowing  line  broke. 
The  captain  was  Bick  below;  one  of  the  hands  drove  a 
horse  that  was  on  board  into    the  water,  and  he  swam 
ashore;  the  man,  also,  jumped  overboard,  and  reached  the 
land.     Besides  the  captain,    there  was  left  on   board  no 
other  person  belonging  to  the  boat,  but  a  boy.     Of  pas- 
sengers, there  were  two  men  and  a  woman.     A  trip  over 
the  Falls  appeared  inevitable.      The  wind  was  blowing 
freshly  across  the  river,  and  the  ready  presence  of  mind 
of  the   woman    suggested  that  some   of  the  bed   clothes 
should  be  got,  and  a  sail  erected.     No  time  was  lost,  and 
an  old  quilt  was  eoon  hoisted  to  court  the  propitious  bre?ze. 
They  made  way  over,  but  much  faster  down.     It  was  in 
the   forenoon  of  a   fine  and  pleasant  day,  their  situation 
was  noticed  from  both  sides,  and  boats  put  out  to  their 


h 


ror  the 
without 


3. 


ppened, 
Illy  one, 

31-,  from 
3  broke, 
drove  a 
le  swam 
ched  the 
)oard  no 
Of  pas- 
rip  over 
blowing 
of  mind 
clothes 
lost,  and 
8  bre?ze. 
t  was  in 
situation 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


237 


Canal  ho;  t  iticiileiit. 


relief.     The  perrons  were  taken  off  just  before  reaching 
the  rapids.     A  dog  only  wan  left  to  pursue  the  perilous 
navigation.     The  boat  passed   down  near  the  American 
shore,  north  of  Iris  island.     The  dog  remained  on  deck 
until  she  entered  Ihc  rnpido;  and  then,  as  she  struck,  and 
heaved,  and  bounded  over  the  rocks,  he  would  run  below, 
look  out  of  the  cabin  door,  then  jump  on  deck,  and  cast 
his  eyes  upon  the  water,  doing  as  much  as  any  sailor  could 
in  such  a  situation.     To  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  of 
Niagara  Falls,  the  boat  came  suddenly  and  unexpectedly 
hurrying  along   the  rapids.     It  was  not  known  to  them 
whether  there  wore  any  ])ersons  on  board  or  not.     It  was 
the  season  when  the  cholera  prevailed  at  Chippewa,  Buf- 
falo, Tonawanda,    and  through  the  whole   course  of  the 
Erie  canal.     It  was  common,  at  many  places,  when  in- 
fected  persons  were  foimd   to  be  on  board  of  vessels  or 
boats,  to  cause  the  craft  to  be  anchored  out  in  the  stream. 
It  was  the  general  impression  that  this  was  an  infected 
boat,  and   that  it  was  probable  that  there   were  several 
miserable  wretches  below.     The  old  quilt   hanging  out, 
and  the  filthy  and  dismal  appearance  of  the  boat,  confirm- 
ed the   impression.     With  these  opinions,  to  the  specta- 
tors the  scene  was  painfully  interesting,  ps  the  boat  groaned 
and  drove  along,  every  moment  expecting  that  it  would  he 
broken  to  pieces.     It  however  made  a  lodgment  on  the 
rocks,  just  above  the  bridge  that  leads  to  the  island;  and  a 
brave  African  dashed   into  the  water  with  a   rope,   and 
secured  it  to  the  shore.     The  boat  was  not  bndly  damaged, 
and  was  afterwards  hauled  out  and  transported  half  a  nn'le 
by  land,  repaired,  and  agam  Inunched  ujjon  the  water. 
The  building  standing  on  Table  Rock,  is  for  the  pur- 


"iiilii 


M'il 


{  i\ 


if  \i 


238 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


Concert  House. 


poae  of  forcing  water  to  the  village,  or,  ns  it  was  called, 
the  City  of  the  Fnlls. 

The  first  house  on  the  hill,  after  passing  Mr.  Bnrnct's 
museum,  is  colled  the  Concert  House.  ]t  was  erected  for 
the  double  purpose  of  being  used  as  a  bath  house  and  for 
concerts  and  assemblies.  In  the  summer  of  1838,  it  was 
a  barracks  for  eoldiers;  and  a  beautiful  display  of  white 
canvas  tenls  along  the  green  bank,  which  were  occupied 
by  the  forty-third  regiment,  added  considerably  to  the 
scenery  about  the  Falls.  These  troops  had  every  week  a 
eham  fight,  making  a  handsome  sight,  exceedingly  novel 
and  interesting  to  American  visitors. 

Guide. — "  Having  passed  over  all  the  great  views,  it 
is  customary  to  inquire  of  travellers  —  which  they  prefer, 
the  American  views  of  tbe  Falls,  or  the  Canadian  ?" 

Traveller.—"  I  perceive  that  it  is  true,  there  is  in  Can- 
ada one  grand  unvaried  view,  which  surpasses  any  single 
view  on  the  American  side;  but  there  is  not  that  variety, 
that  enchanting  shifting  of  the  scene,  that  occurs  as  wc 
pass  along  on  the  American  shore  and  islands.'* 

While  the  party  are  yet  lingering  around  Table  Rock, 
sometimes  gazing  on  the  Falls,  making  inquiries,  and  des- 
canting upon  the  surrounding  scenery,  several  objects  are 
brought  to  their  notice. 

The  island  just  above  the  Falls,  and  lying  nearly  level 
with  the  water,  is  called  Long  island.  By  damming  the 
water  from  the  side  next  the  main  shore,  a  slight  injury  is 
done  to  the  prospect. 

The  island  about  half  a  mile  above  the  Falls,  which 
hugs  in  close  to  the  shore,  and  around  which  a  small 
branch  of  Vne  Niagara  passes,  is  called  Round  island,  and 
Bometimca  Cynthia  island. 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


239 


Haiiiuel  htrcct,  Ksq.  — Co!,  (lark. 


3  called, 

Barnct'a 
Dcted  for 
1  and  for 
S,  it  wns 
of  white 
occupied 
/  to  the 
r  week  n 
;ly  novel 

news,  it 
y  prefer, 

in  Cnn- 
ly  single 

variety, 
:b  88  wo 

le  Rock, 
and  des- 
jects  ore 

irly  level 
Tiing  the 
injury  is 

3,  which 

a  email 

nnd,  and 


The  dwelling  house  emhowcred  in  trees,  below  the 
brow  of  the  hill,  and  beyond  the  milla  which  arc  seen  at 
the  side  of  the  river,  is  the  residence  of  Samuel  Street, 
Epq.  on  American  gentleman,  long  resident  in  Canada. 

The  house  just  discernible  on  the  hill  beyond  Mr. 
Street's,  was  the  residence  of  Col.  Thomas  Clark,  now 
dcceaped,  and  long  the  partner  of  Mr.  Street.  He  was 
a  Scotchman,  and  represented  in  himself  an  excellent 
specimen  nf  Scotch  nationality.  In  his  youth,  he  was  as 
strong  and  hardy  as  his  own  native  mountains.  At  an 
early  period,  he  performed  the  extraordinary  feat  of  walk- 
ing from  the  Falls  of  the  Genesee  river  to  Black  Rock, 
on  the  Niagara,  in  one  day.  He  started  a  little  before 
sunrise,  and  arrived  at  Black  Rock  before  nine  at  night, 
having  travelled  the  whole  distance  on  an  Indian  path. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  capacity  in  business,  and  very 
exact  and  regular.  When  travelling,  a  few  years  since, 
in  company  with  the  author,  although  he  was  then  worth 
millions,  the  Colonel  was  observed  to  make  an  entry  in  a 
pocket  memorandum  book;  and  he  remarked  at  the  time, 
"  I  have  never  spent  a  sixpence  without  making  a  regular 
entry  and  account  of  it,  and  I  do  so  still."  He  left  a  great 
estate  to  three  already  wealthy  maiden  sisters  in  Scotland, 
and  Canada,  (where  his  wealth  had  been  made,)  was  for- 
gotten in  his  will. 

At  the  upper  end  of  Round  island,  is  the  place  called 
Bridgewater.  There  was  once  on  this  spot  extensive 
mills,  and  quite  a  little  village.  The  works  had  been 
erected  at  great  expense,  and  much  labor  bestowed  upon 
the  bank  to  prevent  slides;  but  during  the  last  war,  the 
hand  of  destruction  was  stretched  over  the  rising  prospects 
20* 


n  - 


240 


JATTNT    TO    CANADA. 

liurniMK  Sprint;. 


of  lhci)lno.*,  nnd  the  mills  and  mont  of  iUo  houses  of  the 
village  were  hiirnt.  Since  Ihrii,  il  has  heen  almndoiied, 
nnd  almost  forjTotlen.  There  in  now  nolhing  infere.slinj;, 
but  the  burning  Rprinfr.  Of  Inte  yeaiP,  the  water  of  the 
river  is  eo  hi^h  an  to  cover  the  ppring.  When  it  is  in  a 
state  to  collect  the  gas,  travellers  very  griicrnlly  go  to  it. 

Two  miles  fr(un  the  Falls,  is  Chippewa,  a  village  of 
considerable  con8;;qnrnce,  and  more  noted  from  its  con- 
tiguity to  the  great  battle  which  took  place  in  1814.  It 
waa  fought  juf-t  above  the  town,  and  the  ground  is  now 
undietit.guifihnble  in  any  way  except  by  fields  and  enelo- 
fiures.  In  the  winter  of  1837 — 8,  Chippewa  was  the 
Bcene  of  action  of  JMcNabb's  forces.  There  they  erected 
batteries,  whence  shells  nnd  rockets  were  thrown  on  Navy 
island. 

The  party  now  pass  from  Tj.ble  Rock,  and  if  they 
conclude  to  remain  for  some  time  in  Canada,  they  go  to 
the  Clifton  House;  and  al  their  leisure  visit  Drummond- 
ville  —  go  to  the  \\  jirlpool  on  the  British  side,  which  is 
four  miles  —  to  Brock's  monument  nnd  Queenston,  eight 
miles  —  Niagara  and  Fort  George,  fourteen  miles.  If 
they  conclude  to  return  to  the  American  shore,  they  take 
"  new  route  back,  by  rising  the  hill  nenr  where  stood  the 
Tavilion,  and  thenco  pass  on  to  Drummondville,  and 
round  to  the  ferrv. 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


241 


t'iiy  of  the  Fulls. 


THE    CITY    OF    THE    FALLS. 

The  propnrljr  of  William  Forpyth,  comprising  nboiit 
four  biuulrcfl  ncrcs  of  land,  and  lying  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  Falla,  was  purchased  eome  years  since  by 
Thomas  Clark,  Samuel  Street,  and  a  numb-r  of  other 
gentlemen.  The  grounds  v/cre  laid  out  into  squares  and 
streets,  suitably  fur  the  accommodation  of  a  large  city. 
An  act  of  incorporation  was  talked  of,  in  which  foreigners 
were  to  be  allowed  some  special  privileges,  and  meaoures 
were  taken  for  the  encouragement  of  those  disposed  to 
purchase  and  build.  Some  sales  were  made.  For  a  while 
the  prospect  was  favorable,  and  several  advantages  were 
offered  to  induce  people  to  make  investments;  and  more 
would  have  done  so,  but  the  proprietors  becoming  lax  in 
their  measures,  improvements  stopped,  and  the  place  has 
been  stationary  for  some  years.  As  it  is  n  commanding 
situation,  on  a  dry  and  pleasant  soil,  and  enjoys  eome  of 
the  finest  prospects  in  the  world,  it  only  requires  the  en- 
couragement which  the  proprietors  can  well  afford,  to 
have  it  go  ahead  at  any  time  they  may  think  proper  to 
determine.  It  has  around  it  a  flourishing  country,  thickly 
populated  by  wealthy  freeholders,  whoso  farms  ore  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation. 


im 


'\m 


m 


.'...    .^-^,  .id' 


242 


JAUNT   TO   CANADA. 


Druiuinonilvillr:. 


DRCMMOXDVILLE. 

'*  Wlint  boots  llic  ofi  rrpenfed  talc  of  strife, 
The  feast  of  vultures,  and  the  waste  of  life  " 


N'lf'  k 


This  flourishing  village  sfnnds  on  ihc  ground  on  which 
the  mis-named  battle  of  Bridgevvatcr  took  place.  It  is 
more  properly  known  as  the  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane. — 
After  the  battle,  the  American  dead  were  thrown  into  n 
heap  and  burnt  —  and  the  Indians  carried  some  of  the 
woundc'd  who  were  yet  alive  to  share  the  same  fate,  but 
were  stayed  in  their  inhuman  conduct  by  the  exertions 
of  the  British  soldiers.  Of  one,  it  is  related,  that  seeing 
an  Indian  dragg'ng  a  wounded  American  to  the  flames, 
who  was  begging  for  his  life,  he  dcdpatched  the  Indian, 
threw  his  body  into  the  heap,  and  saved  the  American. 
This  was  the  greatest  battle  which  took  place  on  the 
frontier.  The  report  of  the  cannon  was  heard  for  the  dis- 
tance of  a  hundred  miles,  and,  to  persons  within  four  or 
five  miles,  the  incessant  dischar  o  of  fire-anns  sounded 
like  the  continuous  roll  of  a  drum.  The  roar  of  the  Falls 
was  not  heard  amid  this  din  of  human  combat. 


JAUNT   TO   CANADA. 


248 


(joneral  Urock'd  IMonuinnit. 


iiitii 


BROCK  S    MONUMFNT. 


♦*  Away,  away,  earth's  pageai.  ry, 
Her  ifiehtest  genia  are  dim  ; 
Anfl  glittering  wealth,  and  power  and  f  me, 
How  worthless  now  to  liim." 


1 


Brock  ^  Monument  stands  on  Q'eenston  heights,  a 
fihort  distance  south  of  tiifi  vil'age.  It  is  built  of  a  soft 
whitish  t*  me,  taken  out  of  tht  nonntaiu  nearby.  The 
base  is  twenty  foet  square,  the  shaft  round,  and  rises  one 
hundred  and  twenty-six  feet  from  the  ground.  It  cost 
nbout  eight  thousand  dollars,  and  was  b  lilt  at  the  expense 
of  tb?  Provincial  "'ovexnnicnt.     It  occuuies  a  bfiaii^ifnl  and 


ifii 


244 


JAUNT    TO    CANADA. 


i 


Extensive  pro9|)crt. 


commniidiiif,'  bUj,  and  overlooks  Fort  Grey,  on  the  Amer- 
ican side,  a  largo  battery  erected  mainly  to  cover  the 
nttack  upon  Quecnslon,  and  the  roads  and  cultivated 
farniB  beyond  the  opposite  beiijlits  for  several  miles.  Be- 
low lies  Lewiston,  with  its  streets  and  orchards  spread  out 
before  the  sjjcctator  as  a  gardrm,  and  from  which  passes 
to  the  east  the  celebrated  Ridge  Road.  Thence  along 
the  brow  of  the  heights,  the  prospect  extends  north  as  far 
as  the  eye  can  reach,  and  acro:-;s  Lake  Ontario  to  its  north- 
ern bounds.  On  the  Canada  side,  the  view  is  equally 
fine.  The  beautiful  little  village  of  St.  Davids,  distant 
but  a  few  miles  at  the  west,  i)ceps  out  from  under  the 
diverging  hills  ;  and  far  beyond,  a  large  tract  of  level 
country,  interspersed  with  improved  farms,  but  generally 
appearing  like  a  dense  forest,  to  the  shore  of  the  lake. 
Below,  and  directly  in  front,  is  the  antique  looking  village 
of  Queenston,  and  the  Niagara  river,  bending  its  serpen- 
tine course  to  the  lake,  and  fornn'ng  the  boundary  of  two 
great  nations.  At  the  mouth  of  the  river,  on  the  Ameri- 
can side,  rise  the  fortifications  of  old  Fort  Niagara,  and 
where  is  beheld  waving  in  the  breeze  the  ptar  spangled 
banner  of  liberty.  On  the  British  side,  is  the  town  of 
Niagara  and  Fort  George,  where  floats  the  proud  stan- 
dard of  England. 

General  Brock  did  not  fall  on  the  spot  where  the  monu- 
ment is  erected,  but  down  the  hill,  in  a  northwesterly 
direction,  about  eighty  rods  distant,  near  a  cherry  tree, 
in  the  rear  of  Queenston.  He  was  at  the  head  of  his 
men,  cheering  them  on  to  action.  He  was  first  interred 
in  the  northeastern  bastion  of  Fort  George,  and  a  twenty- 
four  pound  American  cannon  contured  with  Hull-,  olaced 


J 


JAUNT   TO    CANADA. 


245 


Dralnielion  of  Hrock'n  IM(.niiinoiit. 


at  his  bend.     Alter  the  monumc.t  wna  built,  his  remoinB, 
/itb  those  of  his  aid,  Col.  McUorinld,  were  deposited  hero 
with  miieh  pomp,  on  one  of  the  anniversnrica  of  the  battlo 
of  Qucciiston. 

To  Americans,  thia  moinmicnt  must  cause  but  one  emo- 
tion—  sorrow  for  their  fellow  citizens  wh)  fell  in  that  ill- 
fated  battle.  One  part  of  that  badly  dirfcfcd  and  bloody 
conflict,  related  by  an  eye  witness,  is  fcufRcient.  A  tihort 
distance  below  the  monument  stands  a  log  house.  To- 
wards the  close  of  the  bnttlo,  a  portion  of  the  Americana 
were  driven  down  the  hill,  and  as  many  as  could,  crowded 
into  the  house.  For  a  short  period,  they  lircd  on  their 
pursuers  from  the  doora  and  windows;  but  for  some  mo- 
ments after  they  ceased  firing,  the  enemy  continued  to 
lire  in  upon  them.  This  yight,  with  the  piteous  cries  of 
our  drowning  countrymen,  who  sought  to  escape  the  car- 
nage of  that  day,  by  endeavoring  to  swim  the  Niagara, 
makes  Brock's  monument,  to  those  Americans  who  were 
eye  witnesses  of  the  battle  of  Quoenston,  no  object  of 
veneration. 

On  the  17th  of  April.  1840,  an  attempt  was  made  to 
destroy  this  memorial  of  the  gallant  Brock,  by  blowing  it 
up  with  gunpowder.  The  circular  stairs  within  the  mon- 
ument were  torn  to  pieces,  stones  were  Ihrown  out  of  tho 
wall,  and  it  was  rent  from  the  bottom  to  the  top.  This 
act  waa  attributed  to  the  noted  radical  paf  ,ot,  Benjamin 
Lett.  He  neither  admitted  nor  denied  the  charge;  but 
observed  to  those  who  spoke  to  him  about  it,  **  They  may 
lay  it  to  me." 

In  the  August  following,  a  great  meeting  of  the  Cana- 
dian authorities,  of  the  military  and  Canadian  subjects, 


4,*,w>"~ 


'-^1 


246 


JAUNT   TO    CANADA. 


Town  of  Niagara. 


was  held  at  the  monument,  to  devise  means  to  repair,  or 
rebuild  it.  An  individual  ascended  to  the  top,  and  fixea  a 
flag  on  it,  though  the  monument  Vi'as  in  a  shattered  con- 
dition. 

Contrary  to  the  opinion  of  many  who  had  seen  Brock's 
monument  since  the  attempt  was  made  to  blow  it  up;  who 
supposed,  that  though  shattered,  it  might  yet  stand  tor 
many  years,  in  the  month  of  February,  1841,  a  part  of  it 
fell,  and  it  is  now  left  a  perfect  ruin. 


TOWN   OF    NIAGARA. 

This  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlement  in  Canada,  It  is 
pleasantly  situated  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Lake  Ontario.  It  once  had  the 
prospect  of  being  an  important  place,  and  had  all  the  ad- 
vantages that  insure  prosperity;  but  it  has  not  advanced 
as  was  expected.  Many  of  its  most  wealthy  and  enter- 
prising men  ha^^e  carried  their  business  and  resources  to 
other  places;  others  appear  to  have  ol umbered  over  the 
advantages  which  they  enjoyed  at  home,  and  suffered 
their  neighbors  to  advance  ahead  of  them.  Still  it  is  a 
place  of  considerable  wealth,  more  enterprise  is  evinced, 
and  from  its  fine  location,  it  must  eventually  arrive  to 
eminence  and  respectability. 


or 


MISCELLANEOUS  NOTICES. 


MEDICINAL    VIRTUES    OF    THE    AIR    AT    NIAGARA 

P\VLLS. 

This  may  appear  startling,  though  it  is  indeed  nothing 
more  than  what  is  admitted  by  all  who  have  spoken  or 
thought  on  the  subject.     While  some  waters  possces  pro- 
perties,  the  medical  virtues  of  which  are  admitted,  others 
are  deleterious.     So  with  airs;  while  some  are  destructive 
to  animal  life,  others  are  ambrosial,  grateful,  and  invigor- 
ating.    That  there  is  not  only  a  salutary  and  exhilarating 
quality  in  the  atmosphere  of  Niagara  Falls,  '-ut  also  supe- 
rior  medical  virtues,  is  believed  by  many.     No   epidemics 
have  prevailed  here.     When  the  cholera  raged  through  all 
the  country,  no   case   occurred  within  the  domain  of  the 
misty  cloud.     Here  there  arc  no  poisonous  vapors  arising 
from  stagnant  pools;  no  miasma  from  marshes  or  swamps; 
but  the  moisture  with  which  the  air  is  saturated,  is  driven 
up  from  the  fall  of  broken  n-aters  — not  raised  by  the  in- 
fluences of  heat  or  cold,  but  purified  and  buoyant,  it  floats 
away  from  the  clear  stream,  and  we  breathe  it,  charged 
as  it  is  with  ten  thousand  particles,  fresh  from  nature's 
great  alembic.^    We  not  only  see  and  hear,  but  feci,  and 
•ss^e,  SRu:  breathe  tho  Falls. 
21 


24B 


MISCELLANEOUS    NOTICES. 


(ieology  of  Niagara  river. 


GEOLOGY   OF    NIAGARA    RIVER. 


Here  is  a  great  fuld   for    geological  and  mineral  re- 
search.    The  rocks  in  many  olaccs  arc  laid  bare  to  a  great 
depth,  and  many  of  the  most  interesting  spots  for  such 
examinations  have  never  yet  been  visited,   owing  to  the 
ditliculty  of  getting  to  them.     Slight  m)tice8  of  the  form- 
ation and  character  of  the  rocks   in    this  neighborhood, 
have  been  laid  before  the  public,  by  the  New- York  State 
geologists,  but  it  iri  not  known  t^iat   they  have  devoted 
much  time  to  a  careful  examination.     There  are  known 
to  be  saline  waters  at  the  Five  Mile  Mea'iows,  and  sulphu- 
rous and   gas  springs  upon  the   mountain.     Argillaceous 
iron  ore  is  found  on  the  bank  of  the  river;  many  specimens 
of  lead  ore  are  obtained,  and  in  one  instance  a  largo  lump 
of  several  pounds  was  picked  up.     Common   ami  water 
lime,  and  building  stone  are  abundant,  and  gypsum  is  also 
supposed  to  be  plentiful.     In  a  late  examination  abng  the 
river,  at  a  bare  part  of  the  bank,  where  it  is  exposed  for 
two  hundred  feet,  there  was  observed  to  be  in  one  of  the 
lower  strata  of  the  rocks,  of  several  feet  in  width,  a  dark 
Btrcak,  much  resembling  lead  or  coal.     It  may  be  neither; 
but  the  careful  examination  along  the  borders  of  the  river, 
will  undoubtedly  lead  to  some  interesting  results. 


MISCELLANEOT'S    NOTICES. 


Mmeral  spociiiims. 


MINERAL    SrECIMENS. 


249 


eral  re- 
a  great 
or  such 
f  to  the 
e  forra- 
)orhood, 
k  Slate 
devoted 
known 
eulphii- 
illaceous 
lecimens 
go  lump 
d  wnler 
ni  is  also 
bug  the 
)08ed  for 
10  of  the 
1,  a  dark 
neither; 
he  river, 


Large  quantities  of  beautiful  fipecimens  have  often  been 
found,  or  broken  out  of  the  rocks,  around  the  Falls.  Many 
of  them  arc  olfored  for  tale  to  visitors.  Some  of  them  are 
very  valuable. 

Niagara  Ftdla  has  also  become  a  mart  for  canes  and  In- 
dian curiosities;  moccasins,  worked  with  beads  and  porcu- 
pine quills;  Indian  work  pockets,  needle  cases,  war  clubs, 
bark  canoeSj  maple  sugar  in  fancy  boxes  ornamented  with 
quills,  &,c. 


JOHN    DOWNING,    AND    THE    WHIRLPOOL. 

**  He  lives !  from  out  the  wliirlpool's  depths, 
From  out  a  wat'ry  grave !" 

This  is  not  the  celebrated  Jack  Downing,  but  may  be 
a  remote  relative  of  the  family;  however,  he  performed 
a  voyage  which  the  navigator  of  the  Two  Follies  would 
hardly  attempt.  In  1811,  Mr.  Downing,  with  others, 
was  cutting  cedar  posts  at  the  Whirlpool,  on  the  British 
Bide,  for  palisades  at  Fort  George.  Th.oy  were  made  into 
small  raft«,  and  set  adrift  where  the  current  passes  out 
from  the  Whirlpool,  and  were  afterwards  picked  up  in  the 
m^r  between  Queenston  and  the  Fort.  While  he  waa 
nxing  soitisihing  on  one  of  the  rafts,  the  end  lying  on  the 


m 


250 


IMISCELLAVEOUS    NOTICES. 


Dcall'i  ofDoci.  Iliiiiycrroril. 


Bbore,  it  flipped  into  llir  wntcr,  niul  before  his  compniiiona 
could  help  him,  he  wnH  cnrricd  out  of  (heir  rench.  Slowly 
the  rnfl  receded  from  Ihe  nhore,  ])nfising  up  the  sfrenm.  It 
remniiied  in  Ihe  Whirlpool  nnd  eddies,  for  nenrly  hiilf  ndfiy, 
but  wiiR  not  drnwii  into  \hc  priricipnl  vorlex.  At  lenglh, 
Ihe  rnfl  \vn:s  thrown  t-o  near  the  shore,  Ihnt  his  compniiiona 
renehiMl  out  to  him  n  long  pol;',  on  which  JNIr.  D.  seized 
nnd  e8cnp(>d  from  his  perilous,  situntion. 

113  pnid  that  he  wna  cnrricd  round  with  his  rnft  Bcvcnty 
times.  A\  one  linu;  ho  wn.^  on  the  outer  circle  of  n  whirl- 
pool whicli  des!cend!:d  to  th:'  c'Mitre  nt  IvnM  thirty  feet. 
Tlu  re  hi'  thought  he  eliould  !)(>  engulphed,  nnd  he  consid- 
ered d:'nth  as  eertnin,  in  an  instant;  but  very  fortunately, 
nnd  singularly,  his  raiY  was  Firurk  wilU  a  current  which 
carried  it  in  n  contrary  direction,  and  iuinlly  brought  it  to 
within  n  few  feet  of  the  bhorc. 


DEATH    OF    DOCT.    IIUXGERFORD. 


i 
li 


"OIkIchiIi!  plern  tyrnnt  of  our  flectins;  hours, 
III  tlionsMiiil  slitipes  ilioii  trifk'st  lliiiie  aiuic  powers  ; 
V<)u;li,  uiaiiliooil.  asiP,  are  all  alike  to  tlire  ; 
Creation  IjcikIs  Ijciiealli  thy  s:crn  decree." 

Mnny  narrow  eacnpcs,  nnd  runny  end  and  serious  acci- 
dents hnve  occurred  nround  the  Falls;  but  at  length  it  has 
become  the  pninful  duty  of  the  nnnnlist  to  record  nil  inci- 
dent of  n  new  nnd  fatal  charncter.  Since  the  first  discov- 
ery of  these  profoundly  interesting  yet  fearful  scenes, 
visitors  have  with  impunity  rambled  above  and  bcnouth 


MISCELLANEOUS    NOTICES. 


251 


Dcailj  of  Doct.  llungcrford. 


the  overhanging  rocks;  and  though  the  danger  was  evi- 
dent to  the  eye,  no  accident  had  happened,  no  event  had 
taken  place  to  warn  Ihem  of  the  hazard  to  wliich  they 
were  exposed. 

About  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  of  the  twenty-seventh 
of  May,  18:^!),  Doctor  IJungerford,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.  with 
Mr.  Nile,  of  Columbus,  O.  and  Mr.  Lindecy,  their  guide, 
were  viewing  the  river  and  Falls,  near  Ingrahani's  cave, 
below  the  point  of  Iris  island.  Doct.  Ilungerford  was 
standing  between  the  guide  and  Mr.  Nile.  After  looking 
awhile  upon  the  eccne,  the  guide  concluded  that  all  had 
been  seen  at  that  point  interesting  to  the  travellers,  and 
remarked  that  they  would  now  go  to  another  place.  At 
that  instant,  he  saw  the  air  fdled  with  earth  and  falling 
stones;  all  endeavored  to  spring  aside.  Doct.  Ilungerford 
fell.  Mr.  Lindsey  immediately  raised  him,  and,  with  the 
assistance  of  Mr.  Nile,  bore  him  to  a  more  secure  place. 
They  were  not  at  liret  aM'are  of  the  fatal  injury  he  had 
received.  The  rocks  had  struck  him  on  the  back  of  the 
head,  and  on  hie  neck  and  shoulders.  He  breathed  but  a 
few  times,  and  expired  without  a  groan  or  the  least  con- 
vulsive motion.  Mr.  Lindsey,  too,  received  several  severe 
contusions,  and  had  his  coat  and  pantaloons  torn,  but  did 
not  notice  his  own  bruises  until  some  time  after. 

About  half  an  hour  before,  the  party  had  been  standing 
on  the  edge  of  the  bank  immediately  above  the  spot  where 
Doct.  Hungerford  met  his  death.  While  there,  he  was 
engaged  in  taking  notes  of  the  scene  in  his  memorandum 
book;  and,  the  last  words  he  wrote  were  — 

**  I  fear  not,  I  dread  not.  though  cataracts  oppose, 
The  rocks  that  support  nie  I'll  feud  us  my  foes." 
21* 


252 


MISCELLANEOUS    NOTICES. 


An  nrlvcntiiro  iiiiioni;  Uio  UapiilH. 


It  is  not  vvi>iul('rfiil  tbnt  this  find  nccidont  bIiouUI  have 
happened  ;  hut  centuries  may  roll  awny,  nnd  thousands 
and  tens  of  tlioupands  of  inchvidunls  pass  and  repass  in 
safely,  as  they  htive  done,  hcfore  sueh  unolher  melaneholy 
disabter  is  n-rain  witiu's-ied. 


AN    AUVENTLIIE    A3I0N(J    THE    JIAPIDS. 


"  Tic  colIoctoJ  -, 
No  more  niii;./.iMiioiit ;  tell  yoiir  pitcouH  hc.-irt 
There's  no  liarmdone." 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  July,  1830,  an  occurrence  hap- 
pened at  the  Fnll8,  of  Sfcat  drauialic  elli'ct,  and  of  much 
anxiety  and  inlereet  to  the  actors,  as  well  as  to  those  who 
were  lookers  on. 

The  trrcat  rapids  which  pass  down  the  American  side, 
between  the  main  shore  and  among  the  islandi?,  that  lead 
directly  to  the  Falls,  have  ever  been  beheld  with  aston- 
ishment and  awe.  Upon  the  bridge  which  spans  this 
impetuous  stream,  two  men  were  at  work,  Myron  Chapin 
and  Wdlinm  Murray.  A  plank  accidentally  fell  in  the 
water  on  the  upper  side  of  the  bridge;  Chapin  was  struck 
by  one  end,  and  thrown  in.  To  say  the  water  here  rune 
like  a  mill-race,  conveys  but  a  slight  idea  of  its  raging 
violence.  Murray  misbed  his  companion,  but  while  he 
was  for  a  moment  wondering  in  his  mind  at  his  sudden 
disappearance,  he  cast  his  eyes  over  the  side  of  the  bridge, 
and  Buw  him  Btruggling  in  the  water,  which  wns  bearing 


MISCKLLANEOUS    NOTICES. 

Cliit|iin  in  tiic  riipidn. 


253 


him  rapidly  alonf?  to  Iho  ontarncf.     The  day  was  boaiiliful, 
the  air  was  gently  undulated  by  the  dafihiiifr  water?,  and 
poseeesed  all  tlu)8<;  refreBhing  and  bracing  powers  for  which 
the  Niagara   alniowphere  has   bcconu'  so  much  esteemed. 
A  great  number  of  visitors   were  aroinul   the  island,  and 
several   were  passing  on  the  briduc     A  man  contending 
with  the  driving  tovrcnl,  pitching  over  descending  ridge.s, 
■  and    rolling    hendlong  towards  the    FailH,  was  to  them  a 
Budden  atul  fearfid  night.     (Quicker  than  the  cry  of  '  lire!' 
the  wordri  (l(,'\v,    "  a  num  in  oil'  the  bridge,   io  the  ra[)id8, 
going  over  the    FuHh!"      It  fell  like  a  i-liock  on  the  ear, 
and  all  hurried  to  witnees  a  fellow  being  in  Kuch  a  dread- 
ful extremity;  to  see  his  agony;  his  struiigle  for  life;  his 
looks  of  despair  on  that  terrific  verge;   and  the  j)Iange  into 
the  deep   and  foaming  abyrs.s.     The  eyes  of  all,   a.^  they 
assembled,  became  rivctted   upon  him,  as  he  vainly  eon- 
tended    against  the  powerful  billows  whicli  were  bearing 
him   along   to   destrnction,  apparently   so    inevitable.     It 
was  a  spectacle  of  thrilling  interest    and  anxiety   to  the 
beholders.    The  raging  waters  dnslied  resistlcssiy  along,  and 
the  Falls  roared  their  hoarae  and  hollow  moan,  aa  he  was 
forced   over   the  dceeending    steps,   and    every   moment 
neared  him  to  his  fiite.     A  small  island  lay  at  the  left  of 
his  downward  course,  and  a   rny  of  hope   arose  that  he 
might  reach   it.     It  was  evident  that  he  was  struggling 
for  that  isolated  spot.     A  moment  more  and  he  will  reach 
the  island,  or  pass  on  to  that   terrific  plunge  —  it  was  a 
moment  of  suspense,  in  which  the  fate  of  a  fellow  being 
would  be  determined  for  life  or  death.     He  gained  it  — 
he  rose  from  the  water,  and  stood  forth  aa  one  escaped 
from    destruction,     This  isle   is  about  twenty  feet  wide 


254 


MISCELLANEOUS    NOTICES. 


C'liapin  reacheH  an  isliiiid. 


and  about  thirty  feet  long,  and  is  eight  or  ten  rods  above 
the  sheet  of  fnlhiig  water:  a  fiiimll  bul  (h-ep  channel  runs 
between  it  and  the  next  island;  the  foot  of  man  had  never 
before  pressed  upon  its  turf,  or  trod  upon  its  rocks.  Tho' 
many  iiad  dared  to  venture  in  the  nuist  dangerous  places 
among  the  rapidi,  yet  this  island  had  remained  unvisitcd, 
and  was  considered  inaccessible.  There,  on  that  lonely 
(spol,  cut  off  from  his  fellow  men;  what  could  be  done  for 
his  relief? 

An  hour  or  more  intervened;  a  snuill  boat  was  got  from 
Canada;  but  who  was  to  attempt  that  dangerous  luiviga- 
tion.  Joel  11.  llobinson,  sjjoken  of  in  another  })art  of 
this  work  as  a  moat  skilful  waterman,  and  which  had  been 
written  of  him  six  months  before  this  occurrence,  had 
lately  met  with  an  accident.  His  thund),  and  a  part  of 
his  hand,  had  been  tnk(>n  off  by  a  circular  saw,  and  the 
wound  was  yet  in  an  unsound  t-tate.  He  was  found,  the 
disaster  hastily  related  to  him;  and  he  jiroved  true  tho 
words  which  had  been  spoken  of  him  in  relation  to  his 
going  over  the  Whirlpool  in  a  life  boat:  "He  will  not 
hesitate  to  attempt  it." 

He  enters  the  boat  at  the  lower  end  of  Bath  island; 
examines  with  a  careful  eye  the  oars  and  the  condition  of 
the  row-locks,  and  seating  himself  in  the  usual  position, 
with  his  back  to  the  prov.'  of  the  boat,  he  shoves  off  into 
the  white  and  foaming  waters.  He  bends  his  way  against 
the  strong  current  around  tho  ieland  to  the  northwest 
corner,  leading  to  the  Falls:  it  descends  stern  foremost; 
the  eyes  of  Robinson  are  upon  the  raging  stream,  on  the 
Falls,  the  island,  and  on  him  to  whose  relief  he  is  going. 
From  the  time  Chapin  was  precipitated  in  the  water  to 


MISCELLANEOUS    NOTrCF.S. 

Holiiiisnn  jrops  to  his  rcsciio. 


255 


bis  roncbiiifr  iho  islaiid,  a  f.vv  minutcB  only  IratiHpirocl. 
It  was  not  80  wifli  Uobinpon:  in  llial  fitronj;  and  bounding 
flood  he  (loscondcd  slowly.  JIo  niad(!  true  the  language 
oflbepocl:  bo  "  wantoned  with  tljo  hillowe."  At  times 
be  eat  composedly  in  liie  boal,  but  sligblly  skimming  iho 
water;  nl  olhor  linuB  h(>  wouhl  throw  out  all  hi«  powers, 
to  wrestle  with  the  driving  Biirgep.  When  be  bad  descend- 
ed a  pcrp(.ndc\iiar  pitch,  he  would  for  a  moment  repose  on 
bis  oars,  and  bin  '  );it  would  statul  spell-hound,  as  if 
fhained  to  the  spot,  or  a,^  if  waiting  his  further  bidding. 
Thus  leisurely  ho  descends,  the  spectators  beholding  bis 
progress  in  breathlops  solieitude.  The  wile  of  Chapin  too, 
bad  arrived,  and  her  heart  beat  with  interiPO  anguish,  as 
she  witnessed  the  attempt  which  was  making  to  relieve 
ber  husband. 

At  length,  after  about  llfteen  minutes,  bo  nears  the 
isle;  to  reach  it  ho  springs  into  the  water;  the  force  of 
the  current  prostrates  bim;  tho  boat  slips  from  bis  hold 
and  passes  on;  the  aspiration  dies  upon  the  lips  of  the  be- 
bolders,  ''  ho  js  gone!"  *' ho  is  ^,)^■t!"  In  an  instant  be 
rises,  j)lunge8  at  the  boat,  seizes  it,  bounds  into  the  seat, 
looks  collectively  arouiuJ,  deliberately  takes  the  oars,  dips 
them  in  tho  water,  and  in  a  moment  more,  boat  and  boat- 
man have  pni-Tr^ed  from  fight  in  tho  rear  of  the  island. 
Whether  be  had  landed,  or  whether  the  current  had  swept 
him  down,  was  uncertain.  Not  long  was  the  suspense. 
In  r  ^v\v  minutes  he  was  observed  upon  tho  \u\>  of  the 
highest  tree,  and  severing  tho  topmost  branch,  be  waved 
it  in  the  air;  while  the  excited  multitude  answered  in 
loud  and  repeated  cheers.  Before  Robinson  had  mounted 
tho  tree,    Chapin    had   met   and  embraced  bis  debverer 


•t| 


250 


MISCELLANEOUS    NOTICES. 


'J'lirir  siif«*  rclurn. 


After  socuring  minr  hnitichcs  of  llic  <n>0H  uiul  other  mc- 
morinls  of  the  it-Iaiul,  they  eiiibrnk  in  [■.  o  l>'>nt.  llol)inson 
docs  not  tnke  the  wuno  eonrso  l)fick  that  he  rnnic;  but  ono 
obliquely  neroHS  the  river,  jn  sing  through  the  riuule  t 
divide  the  ib^lnntU  that  lie  north  of  Iris  island,  and  just 
nbove  the  Falls.  It  wan  a  most  perilous  and  dillleult  nav- 
igation: but  the  inlands  hid  them  from  view  nearly  tho 
whole  distance.  The  niuUitudc  receive  them  with  exul- 
ting cheert!  on  Iris  ihlaiul;  tli;^  wife  of  Chapin  rushes  for- 
ward to  embrace  her  re.-(;ue(l  hui  hand;  Robinson  diKtributes 
to  the  assembly  the  branches  of  evergreens  which  he  had 
lorn  from  tho  island;  a  spontaneous  collection  is  made  for 
him,  and  he  and  Cbai)in  being  placed  in  the  boat,  they 
are  triumphantly  carried  on  the  shoulders  of  the  i)Cople 
across  the  bridge  to  the  mam  shore;  and  what  was  begun 
in  danger  and  imminent  hazard  of  life,  is  concluded  in 
hilarity  and  joy. 

The  small  it^land  on  which  Chapin  landed  has,  by  gen- 
eral consent,  received  the  name  of  Chapin's  island.  Tho 
next  island  lying  southwest  of  it,  and  which  is  larger,  has 
long  been  known  by  the  name  of  Robinson's  island,  he 
having  visited  it  in  JH.*??,  in  company  with  Capt.  Kowa- 
lewski,  who  planted  the  Tolisih  Hag  on  its  extreme  western 
point  above  the  Falls. 


MISr  K !.t A N EOU8    NOTK; KH . 


257 


CliroiK  'ogifiil    I'iil)!' 


CHKONOLO(JICAL    TAULE. 


107H. 
1079. 

1711. 
1712. 

171-2. 
17  J!). 

1770. 
17!r>. 


1801. 

18Uj. 


1^10. 
IHIl. 
ISl'i. 

IHi:}. 


1814. 
1817. 

1818. 


IS'20. 
182-2. 
1825. 


First  nufliftitic  notir''  of  tlip  I'mIIs. 

Tlify  won'  visilcl  In  TiUlicr  llnmrpiii. 

Stockade  Fort  built  hy  iJc  lii  Halle,  on  Ihr,  present  site  of  Fort 

Niajrar't. 
Fiarliest  dale  foiiMd  on  tlie  rocks  at  Ihe  Falls. 
A  pari   of  ilie  Tusearora  trilie  of  Indians  etnigrated  from 

rarolina. 
Inirli'-sl  date  found  on  the  iri-es  on  Iris  Island. 
Hatlle  of  the   Devil's   Hole.     Fort  NiaLMra  taken   from  tho 

French.     French  N'esseis  hurnt  at  IJuriil  Ship  Creek. 
f:o:iis  pl.ice.l  oil  iris  Island,  hy  Mr.  Siednian,  an  lOiifjlishnuui. 
A  shoi'k  of  an  eanlKinake  at  N'iaiiara  I'^ills. 
I'ort    Mairara    ''Miveied  up  to  the  Ainencans.     The    IJritisli 

inhalii!ants  n.tvc  to  ("iinada.     At  this  time  there  was  hut 

one  white  fauiilv ,  e\<'liisive  of  those  at   Fort  Niagara  and 

Sildosser,  in  the  territory  that  now   forms  the  county  of 

IS'itiyara- 
Vlllatre  of  I,ewi>!oM  surveye  I  out. 
'J'Jie  mile  reserve,  a  strip  of  one  mile  ulonii  Hie  Niiiirara  river, 

from  l-'iiri  i\'ia<,'ara  to  Hiitfilo,  sold  hy  the  Slate  of  Xew- 

^'ork,  at  ii  puhlic  sale,  at  Alliany.     Ai'mustus  I'orier,  FiSi]. 

peules  lie  ir  the  I'alN,  and  lays  out  ^laneliester,  aficrwarda 

iNia!j:ara  Falls  \illatre. 
IMr.  Valeniiiie  and  aiiother  person  mi  over  the  Falls, 
.loliii  Dowtiiii;,'  dnt'is  out  in  Ihe  Wliirlpool,  and  gcta  out  safoi 
Oclolier  J"}.   IJallle  of  t^eeiiston. 
May -27.   IJalllc  of  P'ort  (ieorire. 
.Inne.i.  HattleofSionyCreek. 
.Iune24.   IJattle  of  IJe.iVer  Dams. 
JJec.  1!).  Tiie  British  lake  l-'ort  Niasrara  hy  surprise,  burn  all 

the  frontier  villag'-s,  and  lay   waste  and  depopulate  tiie 

country. 
July  (I.  IJaltle  of  Chippewa. 
.Inly  '2,3.  IJattle  of  hiindy's  Lane. 
First  liridtre  hiiili  lo  Iris  Island,  and  was  the  next  winter  cnr- 

ried  off  ity  the  ice 
Second  hridire  to  tiie  Island,  huilt  lower  down  than  the  first. 

A  |)orti()ii  of  'ra!)le  Uock  falls,  with  much  noise.     Uen.  P. 

Whiiney  luiilils  the  first  stairs  down  the  bank,  establishes 

the  first  ferry. 
Two  men,  in  a  scow,  sro  over  the  Fallsi. 
Two  men,  from  (jlran<l  island,  go  over  the  Falls. 
William  Chambers  and  another  man,  in  a  canoe,  go  over  tho 

Falls.    Cave  discovered  by   Mr.  Catlin,  which  bears  his 

name. 


i 


f      *  V 


258 


f 


MISCELLANEOUS    NpTICEri. 


lJhr()noloj,'i('.iI  Tahlr. 


1827. 

1828. 

1829. 


18;]2. 

1834. 

18.3.'). 
1830. 


i  1637. 


18.18. 
Ic31). 


1840. 


A  vcssrl,  (viIIp  I  ilic  iMuliiguii,  will)  iiniiiiiilH  uii  hoard,  is  sent 
ovrr  llic  Fulls. 

Aiioitipr  poriioii  of  Tulilo  Uock  fulh;  and  in  I  lie  same  year, 
isrvpr.il  lAt'/c  pioi'ps  of  llif  roik  coiiiposiiitj  llic  Horse  .Shoe 
Fall. 

lliddl*'  Siairciisc  Imilt.  Srliooiicr  Superior  scri(  over  tlio 
I'^ills.  !S;iiii,  I'alcli  jiiiiips  luicc  tVoin  a  plalforia  erected 
helow  the  hank.     Aiioilier  jiari  of  Tahle  Kock  falls. 

June  10.  I'raiiciH  Ahlioli  drowiieil  while  halliii)<r. 

A  canal  ho  it  dril's  a<•ro.s:^  the  river.  ('Iiolera  prevails  through 
the  comi  ry  ;  no  c'lsrs  ai  Xiajrara  i"'alls  v.llaye. 

July  I.').  .Mr.  IJeny  il.ll  White  and  .Mr.  Cieorgc  Sims  first 
eater  Inirrahani's  L'ave. 

IMay  Jl».  A  man  \v;Mit  over  the  Falh. 

(jireal  speculaiion  in  r>'al  estate.  Two  men  in  a  skirt',  20  over 
the  Falls.  Carstirsi  comnienre  running  on  the  IJii'falo  and 
Niagara  Falls  raiiroad.      Alexander  L'oes  over  the  hank. 

Cars  commence  running;  on  the  liockpon  and  Niatrara  Fall.<» 
and  liewision  railroads.  Dec.  "i'J.  rtieandjoat  Caroline  cut 
out  from  Schtosser,  and  l.urnt. 

Dec.  11.  C^ajitain  Islier,  al  .Sireel's  Point,  assassinated. 

Fch.  ID.  Pavilion  Hotel  hnrnt.  .May 'i?  Doctor  llnngerford, 
of  Troy,  killed  ne  ir  in;iraliam'.s  (^ave,  hy  some  falling 
rocks,  wli  Isl  viewing  the  Falls.  .Inly  2.).  Itohinson  res- 
cued Chapii  from  the  islaml.  r»ept.  Episi;oi)al  Church 
burnt  ne;ir  Chi]ip"\va,  hy  incendiaries. 

April  17.  Urock's  iMouunAMU  hlowu  up  hy  incendiaries. 


DISTANCES. 


From  the  Cataract  Hotel  and  Engle  Tavern  to  the 

top  oi"  the  bank  at  the  ferry,    ....     100  rods. 

Thence  to  the  water,       ........       25  '* 

The  river,  at  the  ferry,  is  in  width,  ....       56  ** 

From  the  water's  edge  to  the  top  of  the  bank,  in 

Canada, 96  " 

Thence  to  the  Clifton  House, 10  " 


1 


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